RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Successful Change Management Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care Delivery Among High-Performing Practices
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 424
OP 431
DO 10.1370/afm.3017
VO 21
IS 5
A1 Peterson, Kevin A.
A1 Solberg, Leif I.
A1 Carlin, Caroline S.
A1 Fu, Helen N.
A1 Jacobsen, Rachel
A1 Eder, Milton
YR 2023
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/21/5/424.abstract
AB PURPOSE To learn how the highest-performing primary care practices manage change when implementing improvements to diabetes care delivery.METHODS We ranked a total of 330 primary care practices submitting practice management assessments and diabetes reports to the Understanding Infrastructure Transformation Effects on Diabetes study in 2017 and 2019 by Optimal Diabetes Care performance. We ranked practices from the top quartile by greatest annual improvement to capture dynamic change. Starting with the top performers, we interviewed practice leaders to identify their most effective strategies for managing change. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed to identify change management strategies. Saturation occurred when no new strategies were identified over 2 consecutive interviews.RESULTS Ten of the top 13 practices agreed to interviews. We identified 199 key comments representing 48 key care management concepts. We also categorized concepts into 6 care management themes and 37 strategic approaches. We categorized strategic approaches into 13 distinct change management strategies. The most common strategies identified were (1) standardizing the care process, (2) performance awareness, (3) enhancing care teams, (4) health care organization participation, (5) improving reporting systems, (6) engaging staff and clinicians, (7) accountability for tasks, (8) engaging leadership, and (9) tracking change. Care management themes identified by most practices included proactive care, improving patient relationships, and previsit planning.CONCLUSIONS Top-performing primary care practices identify a similar group of strategies as important for managing change during quality improvement activities. Practices involved in diabetes improvement activities, and perhaps other chronic conditions, should consider adopting these change management strategies.