Building Successful Models in Primary Care to Improve the Management of Adult Patients with Obesity

Danielle Casanova*, Robert F. Kushner, Elizabeth L. Ciemins, B. Gabriel Smolarz, Earlean Chambers, Erin Leaver-Schmidt, John Kennedy, W. Timothy Garvey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although several obesity clinical practice guidelines are available and relevant for primary care, a practical and effective medical model for treating obesity is necessary. The aim of this study was to develop and implement a holistic population health-based framework with components to support primary care-based obesity management in US health care organizations. The Obesity Care Model Collaborative (OCMC) was conducted with guidance and expertise of an advisory committee, which selected participating health care organizations based on prespecified criteria. A committee comprising obesity and quality improvement specialists and representatives from each organization developed and refined the obesity care framework for testing and implementing guideline-based practical interventions targeting obesity. These interventions were tracked over time, from an established baseline to 18 months post implementation. Ten geographically diverse organizations, treating patients with diverse demographics, insurance coverage, and health status, participated in the collaborative. The key interventions identified for managing obesity in primary care were applicable across the 4 OCMC framework domains: community, health care organization, care team, and patient/family. Care model components were developed within each domain to guide the primary care of obesity based on each organization's structure, resources, and culture. Key interventions included development of quality monitoring systems, training of leadership and staff, identifying clinical champions, patient education, electronic health record best practice alerts, and establishment of community partnerships, including the identification of external resources. This article describes the interventions developed based on the framework, with a focus on implementation of the model and lessons learned.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)548-559
Number of pages12
JournalPopulation Health Management
Volume24
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Funding

Ms. Casanova, Dr. Ciemins, Ms. Chambers, Ms. Leaver-Schmidt, and Dr. Kennedy are employees of the American Medical Group Association. Dr. Kushner is a member of the medical advisory board for Novo Nordisk, Inc., and has received research grants from Novo Nordisk, Inc. Dr. Smolarz is an employee and stockholder of Novo Nordisk, Inc. Dr. Garvey serves as principal investigator for clinical trials sponsored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and funded by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Inc., and Pfizer; and is a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim, BOYDSense, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Inc., and the Milken Institute. This collaborative was funded by Novo Nordisk, Inc. The authors received writing/editorial support provided by Patricia Fonseca, PhD, of Excerpta Medica, funded by Novo Nordisk, Inc.

Keywords

  • adult
  • obesity
  • obesity management
  • population health
  • primary health care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health Policy
  • Leadership and Management

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