Putting knowledge into practice.
With news of breakthroughs in care emerging daily, medicine is constantly evolving. Yet studies show that only half of American patients receive the recommended treatment for their condition. The latest preventive knowledge doesn’t always reach the right people.

“More than 57,000 people will die this year because there is a huge gap between what we know and what we do.”
—Margaret O’Kane, President, National Committee for Quality Assurance, September, 2003

There is a way to turn great breakthroughs into better results. And it’s being done everyday at Accountable Physician Practices.

When teams of doctors and health professionals work in a collaborative environment, it becomes easier to realize the latest advances. Doctors are encouraged to share experiences, are provided with feedback on their practices, and use advanced care management tools such as drug reminders, disease registries, and case management. Patients benefit from faster referrals and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are receiving the most proven preventive information and medical treatment.

•The Group Health Heart Protection Study Implementation has shown how coordinated care can accelerate improvements in patient treatment. In July 2002, a new study on the heart was published. By November, a group-wide implementation plan was put in place. By June 2003, less than a year after the study, there was a 20% increase in the number of at-risk patients on medication. By comparison, some estimate that the dissemination of innovation in medical care takes an average of 17 years. In addition, implementing the recommendations would prevent an estimated 750 heart attacks and revascularizations and save approximately $5 million dollars.

•Thanks to a coordinated approach to managing major risk factors and rehabilitation, Kaiser Permanente heart disease rates dropped so quickly that it is no longer the leading cause of death among its patients. Adjusting for age and gender, death from heart disease is more than 30 percent lower in the Kaiser patient population than in the non-Kaiser population in California. Kaiser is now making available its lifesaving "Healthy Heart" program information to all California physicians and the general public.

We have the knowledge. Together, we can make health care work better.

“Obama Visits Clinic Known for Quality Care, Controlling Costs,” by David Brown, The Washington Post, July 23, 2009

The Post takes a more in-depth look at The Cleveland Clinic, a CAPP medical group, that was touted by President Obama as a model of health care efficiency and quality.

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“Yes, models for cost-efficient health care do exist,” by Jim Landers, The Dallas Morning News, July 28, 2009

CAPP group Scott & White is featured in this article that reviews some of the Dartmouth findings on organizations that can curb health care costs.

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“Atul Gawande: The Cost Conundrum Redux,” by Atul Gawande, The New Yorker, June 23, 2009.

Gawande responds to the skeptics of his highly publicized New Yorker article.

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“The Cost Conundrum: What a Texas town can teach us about health care,” by Atul Gawande, The New Yorker, June 01, 2009

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