Tackling Cardiovascular Disease: The Importance of Effective Diagnosis, Management, and Patient Education in Improving Health Outcomes

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a crucial factor for health plans as they aim to improve the quality of care provided to patients. Payers are focusing on managing CVD more effectively by implementing measures to control high blood pressure, which are tied to Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) scores that assess the quality of care provided by Medicare plans. This emphasis on CVD is essential for identifying and managing risks associated with comorbidities such as tobacco use and unhealthy diets that can lead to conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which are major contributors to CVD.

According to a recent report, timely diagnosis and management of diabetes are also critical in improving patient care. Diabetes is often not identified until after a patient experiences a cardiac event, which can lead to severe complications. To provide better care, healthcare providers need updated clinical content at the point of care, which helps them stay focused on the patient and reduces the time spent searching for answers. Additionally, offering consistent care and clinical information resources throughout the healthcare system can help in adopting a system-wide approach to managing CVD and improving patient outcomes.

Involving patients as part of the care team is also crucial in delivering high-quality care. Healthcare leaders emphasize the significance of impactful patient education, especially for diverse patient demographics, in the battle against CVD. Providing holistic education that is engaging and evidence-based can ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients.

The UpToDate® Point of Care report series offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders on how to transform care, unify teams, and achieve better outcomes for patients and healthcare organizations. The report highlights the importance of supporting clinical decisions with current evidence, which is essential for delivering quality care, ensuring patient safety, and optimizing costs. Healthcare professionals across various disciplines benefit from evidence-based knowledge provided by resources like UpToDate to enhance patient care and achieve better outcomes.