Health Telematics (AIM) Final Report
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DIABCARE Q-NET

Diabcare Quality Network in Europe

Project Code:  A-2121
Project value:  528,3 KECU
EC contribution:  500 KECU
No of partners:  31
No of countries:  20
Duration:  24 months
Contact
Dr Dr Klaus Piwernetz
DiabCare Office Munich
Kobellstrasse 3
D - 80336 Munich, Germany
Tel. +49-89-74719141
Fax. +49-89-74719180

Overview

DiabCare Q-Net out to pilot-test the implementation of a telematics application usable across Europe for the purpose of monitoring, evaluating and improving quality of care in diabetes. To make use of the evaluated data, DiabCare Q-Net also delivered a Training Curriculum for Quality Circles which are instrumental in managing the step from data evaluation to improvement of care. A European Quality Network to improve Diabetes Care in Europe The DIABCARE QUALITY NETWORK IN EUROPE links telecommunication with the Quality Development Activity under the umbrella of the European Regional Offices of World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

This approach in diabetes care is used as a model for quality development in other chronic diseases. All European countries are involved in this initiative.

Methods

Consensus was achieved on the required dataset. The dataset was realised for data entry in paper form ("DiabCare Basic Information Sheet") as well as in PC software ("Prodiab"). A system using telematics to collect, aggregate, evaluate and feed back data was established, using PC's with modems, normal telephone lines and a bulletin board node. The bulletin board node consists of a standard PC to perform data evaluation and anonymous feed-back of results. A curriculum for Quality Circles was also laid down. This curriculum can be used to establish local Quality Circles which are necessary to put to use the evaluated quality data by improving process quality locally.

Results

The telematic system was pilot-tested and improved regarding user-friendliness of the data entry and data transfer functions. More than 15,000 patient datasets were evaluated. The results on the quality indicators of diabetes care were returned to participants from about 12 European countries in the form of graphics. For these graphics, the bench marking technique was used to enable easy (but anonymous) comparison of results. The developed Quality Circle curriculum was tested for usability and was finalised, to be used in the local evaluation of results and in the search for improvement in care.

Exploitation of Results

The above methods and technology are being used by a consortium of five companies in an effort to introduce similar quality management tools into the market of general practitioners in Germany. The approach is being extended to include chronic diseases other than diabetes, such as asthma, high blood pressure and thyroid diseases. In analogy to DiabCare-Q-Net, participating physicians will transmit their data for central aggregation and comparative evaluation with regard to specific indicators of quality of care. For these evaluations to lead to actual improvement in care, the company will also offer seminars on the usage of the data provided.

In a separate activity, the Q-Net methods and technology have already been directly introduced into a regional quality management initiative in Bavaria where they are now used in thirty district and university hospitals and some private practices. The participants of this initiative are currently being issued with an improved version of the data entry / transfer / evaluation software and they are using the latest version of the Basic Information Sheet (where the paper system is in use). There are further centres in other Lander of Germany who also participate in this quality management scheme in diabetes care.

Furthermore, there are other regional and national activities employing Q-Net procedures and tools e.g. in France, Italy, Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands.

List of Deliverables

List of Participants

Dr Kirsten Staehr Johansen
WHO-EURO
Scherfigsvej 8
DK - 2110 Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel. +45-39-171255
Fax. +45-39-171864
Prof Dr Michel Krans
IDF-EURO
Rue Washington 40
B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +31-71-5269111
Fax. +31-71-5248136

List of Partners

Clinical Partners

Almeida, Pedro Pereira de; Univ. Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Attali, Jean Raymond; Hopital Bondi-Paris, France
Barrat, Edward; Limerick Reg. Hosp., Limerick, Ireland
Borch-Johnsen, Knut; Kommunhospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Crombrugge, Paul van; Hospital Aalst, Belgium
Home, Philip; Univ. Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Krans, Michiel; Sykehuus, Leiden, The Netherlands
Landgraf, Rüdiger; University Hospital, München, Germany
Leiva, Alberto de; Hopital San Pau y San Creu, Barcelona, Spain
Massi Benedetti, Massimo; University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Raptis, Sotiris; University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Medical Informatics / WHO-EURO / IDF / and other health care bodies

Engelbrecht, Rolf; Medis Inst., GSF, München, Germany
Selbmann, Hans Konrad; Inst. Med. Inf.Proc, Tübingen, Germany
Staehr-Johansen, Kirsten; WHO-EURO, QCT, Copenhagen, Denmark
Vermeij, Dick; Nat. Dutch Org. for QA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Vinther-Jorgensen, Yb; WHO-EURO, ENS-Care, Copenhagen, Denmark

Contractors from Industry

Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
Hewlett Packard Germany, Böblingen, Germany

Associated Contractors from Non-EC countries

Azzopardi, La Valetta, Malta
Czyczyk, Warsaw, Poland
Hancu, Cluj, Rumania
Jervell, Jak, Oslo, Norway
Kaczerovsky, Eva, Vienna, Austria
Koev, Sofia, Bulgaria
Rosenqvist, Urban, Stockholm, Sweden
Rybka, Prague, Czech Rep.
Tamas, Gyula, Budapest, Hungary

Subcontractors

CE-Plus GmbH, München, Germany
Conference - Travel, München, Germany

[ DIABCARE Q-NET (4 FW, 1994-1998) ]

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