University of Cincinnati

Introduction

The Southwest Ohio Quality Improvement and Learning Hub is a collaborative effort with state, academic, clinical practice site, pharmacy and community partners to improve the management and effective treatment of adult chronic disease.  Utilizing a quality improvement science approach, the Southwest Ohio HUB employs a clinical toolkit, patient education resources, monthly collaborative calls, QI coaching, PDSA rapid cycle testing, and Electronic Health Record data to guide project work. Our hub has engaged over 20 federally qualified health center sites, 3 pharmacy sites, 20 patient and family advisory council members and 6 devoted community partner organizations.  

Focus Areas

Topics: Community and Patient Engagement, Innovative Partnerships, Practice Engagement and Transformation

The Southwest Ohio Hub’s first initiative uses data informed quality improvement (QI) science to support the identification, treatment, and management of hypertension, with a specific focus on addressing health opportunities and practice transformation. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. Through the application of QI methods, the Hub proactively identifies patients with uncontrolled hypertension (≥140/90) who require additional clinical intervention to achieve optimal health outcomes.

Critical to this effort is meaningful engagement with patient advisors and community organizations to ensure that interventions and efforts are rooted in equity, reflect community strengths and needs, and are driven by lived experience of individuals with hypertension.

Innovative partnerships with community based independent pharmacies, health system leaders and MCO leaders also play a vital role in hypertension control. Primary care and pharmacy spoke sites benefit from this collaborative model through practice transformation guided by an evidence based hypertension bundle. Additionally, the Hub works closely with health system leaders and clinical providers and staff to educate, coach, and support the use of QI tools that strengthen hypertension management and improve chronic disease outcomes across care settings.