The impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is crucial for health plans to consider. Payers have increased their focus on CVD, with measures like controlling high blood pressure tied to Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) scores, which assess the quality of payers, especially Medicare plans.
The report also discusses the need to identify risks that can lead to CVD comorbidities, such as tobacco use and unhealthy diets linking to hypertension and diabetes. It highlights that many patients do not receive a timely diagnosis of diabetes, often delaying until after they experience a cardiac event.
Providing updated clinical content at the point of care is emphasized to help healthcare providers stay focused on the patient and reduce time spent searching for answers. Consistent care and clinical information resources across the healthcare system are seen to support a system-wide approach.
Treating the patient as part of the care team is encouraged, along with shared decision-making to help deliver high-quality care. Urban added that impactful patient education across all demographics is crucial for healthcare providers combating CVD, as it can lead to better outcomes.
The UpToDate Point of Care report series offers insights for healthcare leaders on transforming care, unifying teams, and driving better outcomes for patients and healthcare organizations. The report discusses the importance of supporting clinical decisions based on current evidence in order to provide appropriate treatment that is high quality, safe for patients, and cost-effective. Many healthcare professionals benefit from evidence-based knowledge provided by resources like UpToDate, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinicians.