OQUIN – Outpatient Quality Improvement Network
Submission Date: December 2012
Entry Type: Case Study
State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: South Carolina
States/Territories Involved: South Carolina
Domain Addressed:Health Systems Strategies
Public Health Issue:Blood pressure control rate is currently ~30%
Project Objectives:OQUIN’s goal is to improve blood pressure control rates from the current level of ~30% of all people with hypertension; improve control for cholesterol, A1C and smoking use.
Program Action:This project targets the primary care patient population.The Outpatient Quality Improvement Network (OQUIN) is an active, practice-based research and quality improvement network. OQUIN maintains a database that contains data on over 1.94 million patients seen by approximately 3,000 physicians, and actively monitors patients with major CVD risk factors.
Partners include:
Medical University of SC
American Society for Hypertension (ASH)
OQUIN, Diabetes Connect Program
SC DHEC Public Health Regions
Data/Other Information Collected:Semi-annual data reports will include BP control, cholesterol, A1C, & smoking status. Comparative data analysis of certified HTN Specialist vs non-specialist.
Impact/Accomplishments:For the period ended Dec 2010, the number of patients seen by non-hypertension specialist was 251,400, with a control rate of 66% for patients with BP =<140/90.
As of December 2011, OQUIN increased reach by 69% to include 423, 986 patients with a control rate of 67% for patients with BP =<140/90 seen by non-hypertension specialist.
Hypertension control defined as BP =<140/90, was achieved by 74% of the 2011 patient population of HTN specialists with reach increasing by 35% to 8,396 in 2011 from 6,199 in 2010.
Challenges/Lessons Learned:Determining the universe of primary care practices in SC remains a challenge.
Next Steps:Promoting recruitment of primary care practices for this program. Also, ASH and HDSP are promoting CME certifications.
Program Areas:Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke, Tobacco
State Contact Information:
SC
Joy F. Brooks, MHA, Director
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
803-545-4497
brooksjf@dhec.sc.gov