A state-based model for management of type II diabetes

Abstract

The Decision Systems Group at the Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, USA and the Clinical Knowledge Management Group at Partners HealthCare Systems, Inc. have developed a computational model that encompasses strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of type II diabetes and associated complications. This effort is part of an on-going, enterprise-wide strategy to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of provided care, by maximizing the use of new clinical information technology in key issues such as complex clinical workflows, usability, controlled terminology, knowledge management, and clinical decision support carried out by Partners HealthCare System. The proposed model is a disease state management system for the continuum of diabetes care that synergistically integrates patient care and education protocols at all levels of disease management, and supports the integration of evidence-based personalized care. Our approach could be easily adapted to managing other chronic conditions e.g., hypertension, asthma, and coronary artery disease. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.