USA - IHI

USA - IHI

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Description

Context and Project Goal

In the United States, one in nine people aged 65 and older lives with Alzheimer's dementia, with many cases remaining undiagnosed. A study found that physicians were unaware of cognitive impairment in more than 40 percent of their patients with cognitive decline. This lack of evaluation can hinder treatment of comorbid conditions and may pose safety risks. To address this, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) partnered with Mass General Brigham (MGB) and the Milken Institute (MI) to improve cognitive assessments in older adults through engaging primary care testing sites through a Learning Community.

Project Description

Over the course of 14 months, the project created a plan to improve assessment rates across different races and ethnicities. This plan was tested at nine primary care sites in a Learning Community. The Learning Community featured educational and coaching events led by experts and people with lived experience.

What are the key lesson learned for the site?

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Site Leads

Leslie Pelton, Vice President

Leslie Pelton, Vice President

IHI, executive sponsor for the project

Sue Butts-Dion

Sue Butts-Dion

Improvement Advisor, IHI

Joelle Baehrend

Joelle Baehrend

Senior Project Director, IHI

Key Partners

  • Community Health Center of Buffalo (New York,NY)
  • EPIC Health - West 7 Mile (Detroit, MI)
  • EPIC Health – Southfield (Southfield, MI)
  • Kings County Primary Care (Brooklyn, NY)
  • LECOM Health Associates of Lake Erie(Erie, PA)
  • RiiiD Medical Group (Irvine, CA)
  • Newton Wellesley Primary Care (Wellesley,MA)
  • Brigham and Women’s Foxborough(Foxborough, MA)
  • Brigham and Women’s Phyllis Jen Center(Boston, MA)
USA - IHI

USA - IHI

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Context and Project Goal

In the United States, one in nine people aged 65 and older lives with Alzheimer's dementia, with many cases remaining undiagnosed. A study found that physicians were unaware of cognitive impairment in more than 40 percent of their patients with cognitive decline. This lack of evaluation can hinder treatment of comorbid conditions and may pose safety risks. To address this, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) partnered with Mass General Brigham (MGB) and the Milken Institute (MI) to improve cognitive assessments in older adults through engaging primary care testing sites through a Learning Community.

Project Description

Over the course of 14 months, the project created a plan to improve assessment rates across different races and ethnicities. This plan was tested at nine primary care sites in a Learning Community. The Learning Community featured educational and coaching events led by experts and people with lived experience.

Impact

A total of 1,511 cognitive assessments were conducted across the nine participating sites. The data collection period was not long enough to detect improvement in outcome measures (trends or shifts in data over time). Teams were encouraged to continue data collection to guide their improvement efforts after the conclusion of the Learning Community. Primary care teams found the Learning Community's information and tools valuable for understanding variation across providers in their practice and improving and standardizing processes for screening, assessment, documentation, and referral. The initiative also fostered a supportive cohort of individuals and primary care practices, facilitating ongoing idea exchange and collaboration.

Site Leads

LP

Leslie Pelton, Vice President

Leslie Pelton, Vice President

IHI, executive sponsor for the project

SBD

Sue Butts-Dion

Sue Butts-Dion

Improvement Advisor, IHI

JB

Joelle Baehrend

Joelle Baehrend

Senior Project Director, IHI

Key Partners

  • Community Health Center of Buffalo (New York,NY)
  • EPIC Health - West 7 Mile (Detroit, MI)
  • EPIC Health – Southfield (Southfield, MI)
  • Kings County Primary Care (Brooklyn, NY)
  • LECOM Health Associates of Lake Erie(Erie, PA)
  • RiiiD Medical Group (Irvine, CA)
  • Newton Wellesley Primary Care (Wellesley,MA)
  • Brigham and Women’s Foxborough(Foxborough, MA)
  • Brigham and Women’s Phyllis Jen Center(Boston, MA)

Publications