Prevention

Overview

The goal of the Prevention Theme is to improve the quality and frequency of preventive health care services in order to optimize beneficiary quality of life and health care efficiencies. The Prevention Theme focuses on the following clinical topics:

• Breast Cancer screening
• Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening
• Influenza Immunizations
• Pneumococcal Immunizations

MPRO is working with selected practices in Michigan to implement strategies to improve rates in the identified clinical topics. Practices enrolled with MPRO must have implemented an electronic health record (EHR) certified by an entity recognized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, such as the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT). MPRO provides consultative and technical assistance to each designated practice to optimize utilization of the certified EHR including identification of patients due for screenings and immunizations, and data reporting. MPRO provides a variety of educational opportunities for each participating practice on using its EHR capabilities to improve screening rates and immunization rates using the tools in Doctor’s Office Quality-Information Technology University (DOQ-IT University) as well as through workshops and process redesign.

Opportunity for Quality Improvement

MPRO interventions that support health information technology (HIT) can improve screening rates by setting up systems that notify providers and patients when cancer screenings should be scheduled. MPRO will also use HIT-focused interventions to help increase vaccination rates. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination levels among adults 65 years of age and older remain well below the Healthy People 2010 objective of 90%. There is a need for more effective strategies for delivering vaccines to high-risk persons, their providers, and household contacts. MPRO’s QIO activities surrounding the Prevention Theme are specifically outlined by CMS.