An initiative launched three years ago to tackle barriers to patient care has made significant progress in improving diabetes outcomes across Southeast Ohio. Housed within the 51ĀŅĀ× Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicineās Diabetes Institute, the Southeastern Ohio Quality Improvement (QI) Hub is leading a growing network of clinical and community partners who are working together to drive measurable improvements in diabetes care across the region.
In 2022, as part of a broad strategy to improve population health, reduce disparities, strengthen health systems and enhance care statewide, the Ohio Department of Medicaid established regional QI hubs at six Ohio medical schools, including the Heritage College. These hubs were designed to work hand-in-hand with community partners, health systems and local organizations to design, test and implement innovative ideas that improve patient care. Through these collaborations, hubs help identify gaps, break down barriers to improvement, disseminate best practices and offer clinical expertise to advance sustainable solutions for better health outcomes.
Over the past year, the Southeastern Ohio QI Hub has supported more than a dozen primary care practices across the region through quality improvement projects focused on diabetes management, preventive care and social determinants of health.
One early success was a regional effort to increase the use of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs). A CGM is a small wearable device that tracks glucose levels throughout the day to help people better manage their diabetes. In its pilot phase, CGM prescribing rose from 8% to 57% across participating clinics, contributing to sustained improvements in A1c levels and greater patient engagement in diabetes self-management. Since the start of the project, the percentage of patients with A1c at or above 9, has fallen from 13.1% to 11.2%, signaling meaningful progress in controlling persistently elevated blood glucose levels. A healthy blood sugar level for someone without diabetes typically ranges from 3.9 to 5.5.
The Hub has also strengthened its work as a community connector. Through a partnership with the , patients experiencing food insecurity are now linked with healthier food options directly at their care sites, an intervention that supports both diabetes management and overall wellness.
āThis work reflects the collective strength of our region,ā said Elizabeth Beverly, Ph.D., who leads the Hub as principal investigator and is an Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O., endowed professor at the Heritage College. āBy bringing together clinics, community partners and patients, we are building a shared foundation for improving diabetes care in southeastern Ohio.ā
To further support both patients and providers, the QI Hub has implemented culturally tailored to strengthen both provider and patient understanding of diabetes care. It has also improved comprehensive foot exam rates through targeted quality improvement strategies and has promoted the use of diabetes navigation and education services to better support patients in managing their condition.
āAll these efforts are grounded in continuous improvement principles and informed by robust data collection and analysis,ā said Beverly.
Most recently, the QI Hub launched a Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Video Series, a designed to give patients and providers quick, practical guidance on core diabetes self-management topics. These videos can be used during clinic visits or shared with patients to reinforce key skills at home, expanding access to diabetes education across the region.
āOur partners are making meaningful progress every day. The QI Hub brings those efforts together, creating the structure, shared learning and data feedback needed to turn local successes into broader regional change,ā said Sarah Adkins, PharmD, clinical lead for the QI Hub.
With three years of steady growth, strong partnerships and successful projects in place, the Southeastern Ohio QI Hub is poised for expansion.
āWe anticipate the Hub will have an even bigger impact moving forward as we expand our partnerships, continue our efforts to build a sustainable infrastructure and implement additional projects focused on health improvement,ā said Beverly.
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Views stated in this publication are those of the researchers only and are not to be attributed to the study sponsors, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, or to the federal Medicaid Program.