Novel Approach Using Administrative Claims to Evaluate Trends in Oncology Multigene Panel Testing for Patients Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Health Plans.

Purpose: To develop an approach to identify and evaluate recent use of multigene panel testing over time.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective database analysis using medical and pharmacy claims data. Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan members diagnosed with select malignant solid tumors were identified.

The impact of real-world cardiovascular-related pharmacogenetic testing in an insured population.

Background: Pharmacogenomics is intended to help clinicians provide the right drug to the right patient at an appropriate dose. However, limited evidence of clinical utility has slowed uptake of pharmacogenomic testing (PGT).

Objective: To evaluate the impact of real-world cardiovascular (CV)-related PGT on clinical outcomes, healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and cost in a large, heterogeneous population.

Addressing diabetes racial and ethnic disparities: lessons learned from quality improvement collaboratives.

A review of national data confirms that while the quality of healthcare in the USA is slowly improving, disparities in diabetes prevalence, processes of care and outcomes for racial/ethnic minorities are not. Many quality measures can be addressed through system level interventions, referred to as quality improvement (QI), and QI collaboratives have been found to effectively improve processes of care for chronic conditions, including diabetes. However, the impact of QI collaboratives on the reduction of health disparities has been mixed.

Using an established telehealth model to train urban primary care providers on hypertension management.

The objective of this study was to determine whether a videoconference-based telehealth network can increase hypertension management knowledge and self-assessed competency among primary care providers (PCPs) working in urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). We created a telehealth network among 6 urban FQHCs and our institution to support a 12-session educational program designed to teach state-of-the-art hypertension management. Each 1-hour session included a brief lecture by a university-based hypertension specialist, case presentations by PCPs, and interactive discussions among the specialist and PCPs.

Early lessons from an initiative on Chicago's South Side to reduce disparities in diabetes care and outcomes.

Interventions to improve health outcomes among patients with diabetes, especially racial or ethnic minorities, must address the multiple factors that make this disease so pernicious. We describe an intervention on the South Side of Chicago-a largely low-income, African American community-that integrates the strengths of health systems, patients, and communities to reduce disparities in diabetes care and outcomes. We report preliminary findings, such as improved diabetes care and diabetes control, and we discuss lessons learned to date.