From Evidence to Outcomes: Implementing Clinically Effective and Cost-Efficient Population-Based Interventions

R James Dudl, MD; Michelle Wong, MPH, MPP

Spring 2005 - Volume 9 Number 2

Kaiser Permanente (KP) is well recognized as an innovator and industry leader in providing cost-effective, population-based, and preventive care for its members. These same principles are reflected also in the goals and strategies of KP's National Diabetes Program. The goal of the Care Management Institute's National Diabetes Program is to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and evidence-based care to reduce morbidity and mortality in members with diabetes. However, when this goal is competing with other short-range targets and resource requests, it often becomes challenging to implement. Maintaining focus on this larger goal is especially crucial when translating evidence into practice. Although the National Diabetes Program's evidence-based guidelines cover a broad scope from prevention of diabetes to screening to self-management, these guidelines must be prioritized and translated into cost-effective programs and initiatives that lead to improved clinical outcomes.