Quality in Practice - A Monthly Newsletter
June 2009
 
Doctor's Office Quality - Care Management 
 
What Will "Meaningful Use" Mean?
Workgroup submits preliminary definition to HIT Policy Committee.

On June 16 the Health IT Policy Committee released a draft document with initial definitions of "meaningful use." To qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentives outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal economic stimulus package), hospitals and physicians must demonstrate "meaningful use" of their EHR. Although the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology returned the document to the committee for reconsideration and revision, this initial draft contains interesting insights into the requirements and timelines under consideration. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will determine the definition of meaningful use later this year. The draft "meaningful use" matrix has been posted online (7-page PDF).
 
Campaign for Kidney Health
 
ACE and ARB Therapy Both Reduce Proteinuria:
Are Two Drugs Better Than One?
A meta-analysis of therapy strategies examines outcomes in 49 studies.
 
Reducing proteinuria is linked to delaying progression of kidney disease. Guidelines call for an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) or an angiotensin-convertingenzyme (ACE) inhibitor, both of which inhibit proteinuria. This analysis suggests combination therapy could reduce proteinuia more than either drug alone.
 

 
Will Your CKD Patients Progress to ESRD?
Combining GFR and albuminaria improves prediction of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

Research shows considering urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and estimated glomeral filtration rate (GFR) improves diagnostic accuracy in identifying patients likely to progress to ESRD. Other risk factors, such as obesity, male gender, smoking and diabetes, did not provide additionally predictive information.
 
 
Low Blood Sugar Serious Threat for CKD Patients
Hypoglycemia may contribute to heart-related deaths in this patient population.

Reduced kidney function among diabetes patients can affect their reaction to anti-diabetes medications, predisposing them to episodes of hypoglycemia. Researchers found this condition affected patients' risk of dying in the near term.


Learn More About Diabetes and CKD
TMF offers free on-site or online continuing education events.

Contact us today to schedule "Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Save Their Kidneys," a one-hour CME presentation, in your office or as a webinar training event. Geared for clinical staff, this presentation covers the scope of preventing, diagnosing and treating kidney disease in the primary care office. TMF consultants can present in-person to your office staff, or you can participate in a real-time, online presentation. Either option is free to physician offices participating in the Campaign for Kidney Health project. 

Call Virginia Badgley at 1-866-439-8863 to schedule a date, or e-mail us at KidneyHealth@tmf.org.   
TMF Health Quality Institute is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 
TMF Health Quality Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
The presentation "Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Save Their Kidneys" has been designated by TMF for 1 hour of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibilty.
This material was prepared by TMF Health Quality Institute, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Texas, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 9SOW-TX-PRE-09-13