Obesity Treatment at HealthPartners: Adaptation of Clinical Guidelines into Systems for Practice Operations

Area of Science:

• Health Systems Management
• Clinical Practice Optimization
• Obesity Medicine

Background:

• Obesity is a complex chronic disease requiring systematic management.
• Clinical guidelines offer evidence-based strategies for obesity care.
• Translating guidelines into practice is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe HealthPartners' successful translation of an adult obesity clinical guideline into an operational system.
• To detail the adaptation of the Institute of Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) guideline.
• To highlight the role of electronic health records in facilitating guideline implementation.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of the ICSI Prevention and Management of Obesity for Adults Health Care Guideline.
• Development of an electronic health record-based "Smart Set" for frontline physicians.
• Integration of information, treatment options, and referral pathways within the EHR.
• Inclusion of details on insurance coverage and system-based resources.

Main Results:

• A functional "Smart Set" was created within the EHR, streamlining obesity care.
• Frontline physicians are equipped with necessary information and tools for patient management.
• The system supports efficient implementation of evidence-based obesity treatment strategies.
• Enhanced access to relevant insurance and resource information for patients and providers.

Conclusions:

• HealthPartners demonstrated an effective model for translating clinical guidelines into practice.
• EHR-integrated "Smart Sets" can significantly improve the delivery of care for adult obesity.
• System-wide approaches are essential for comprehensive obesity prevention and management.