Quality Improvement Project: Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Abstract

This paper describes a quality improvement project in which the aim was to increase the amount of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) prescribed at a primary care clinic for type 2 diabetic patients. The purpose of this project was to improve providers' ability to initiate and manage CGMs in type 2 diabetic patients. The literature review and provider survey results revealed three main barriers to prescribing CGMs that included financial barriers, time constraints, and inadequate provider education about continuous glucose monitors. Surveys were distributed to the providers in the clinic to evaluate for provider perceptions on educational needs for initiating and prescribing CGMs in the primary care setting. The project described how educational content was developed into a video and PowerPoint presentation about ordering, prescribing, and managing CGMs. The video and PowerPoint presentation were disseminated to providers at a primary care clinic. The amount of CGM’s prescribed increased over a four-month duration after the video and PowerPoint educational content was disseminated to providers in the primary care clinic. The goal of the project was to improve the financial benefit for the accountable care organization, streamline processes for care of diabetic patients, and improve care for type 2 diabetic patients.