A Chronic Care Model Based Quality Improvement (QI) Program to Improve the Care of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

A Chronic Care Model Based Quality Improvement (QI) Program to Improve the Care of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of a chronic care model (CCM) based quality improvement program on 1) outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 2) adherence to CKD guidelines. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of a CCM based quality improvement program for patients with CKD and assess potential mechanisms for the intervention's effect. Hypothesis: Implementing a CCM based quality improvement program including system level support in the form of collaborative care, a CKD registry, and provider education will 1) reduce systolic BP in patients with poorly controlled hypertension, 2) increase the percentage of patients appropriately monitored for metabolic complications, and 3) decrease the rate of catheter use in patients initiating dialysis.

Research Plan: The experimental design is a prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of a Chronic Care Model (CCM) based quality improvement program on CKD guideline adherence. The intervention will focus on three main goals: 1) reduction of BP to target levels, 2) appropriate monitoring of patients for metabolic complications of CKD, and 3) reduced use of dialysis catheters in patients initiating dialysis. The CKD CCM QI program will include a lecture on CKD guidelines and hypertension to all CBOC providers and a centrally located pharmacist with access to the CKD registry. Methodology: Veterans receive primary care at Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOCs) throughout Northeast Ohio. Patients with CKD who receive their primary care at a Northeast Ohio CBOC will be eligible for the study. The hypothesis was formulated before data collection.

Per a study protocol, the pharmacist will call each subject (who has not opted out) and discuss their CKD. In brief, the pharmacist will introduce themselves, ask the subject if they have time to discuss their medical care, inform the subject that they have CKD, briefly discuss CKD, ask the subject if they can come for labs, discuss hypertension management as appropriate, and answer any questions. In addition, for subjects with poorly controlled hypertension, the study pharmacist will arrange for a nutrition consult for a low sodium diet, a mainstay of hypertension management in patients with CKD. Finally, for patients with advanced CKD (GFR <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2) who are not seeing a nephrologist, the study pharmacist will arrange for a nephrology outpatient appointment to assess the need for placement of access for renal replacement therapy.

Inclusion Criteria: receipt of primary care at a VISN 10 Northeast Ohio CBOC GFR (calculated according to the 4 variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation) less than 45 mL/min per 1.73m2 with a second GFR less than 60 at least 90 to 730 days prior to the index GFR (26); and at least one primary care visit in the year prior to study initiation. Exclusion Criteria: ESRD as defined by chronic renal replacement therapy, receipt of a renal transplant, hospice care, and age greater than 85 years or less than 18 years at the time of study initiation.

Cooney D, Moon H, Liu Y, Miller RT, Perzynski A, Watts B, Drawz PE. A pharmacist based intervention to improve the care of patients with CKD: a pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial. BMC Nephrol. 2015 Apr 16;16:56. doi: 10.1186/s12882-015-0052-2.