Improving Cholesterol Management via Data-Driven Team-Based Care Solutions in an FQHC Setting

Session Description: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death and cholesterol is a major contributor to ASCVD. Direct and indirect costs associated with cardiovascular disease in the U.S. are estimated at over 350 billion dollars annually and are projected to rise to more than 1 trillion dollars yearly in the next decade. Reducing high cholesterol can help diminish this burden. Each 39 mg/dL (1mmol/L) reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowers ASCVD events by approximately 20% in adults with 10-year ASCVD ≥20%. Statin therapy is the cornerstone in high cholesterol management, however, more than 50 % of high- risk adults indicated for cholesterol lowering medications are not currently prescribed therapy. PQA medication use and medication adherence measures continue to support and drive improvement in statin use, however, therapeutic inertia to statin prescribing is multidimensional and it continues to be a barrier. Therefore, a quality improvement (QI) program, based on evidence-based action steps, outcome and process metrics, tools, resources and peer to peer coaching was implemented to improve statin prescribing among 4 high risk statin-eligible patient groups and LDL-C goals per guideline recommendations. Our goal is to share with the audience our learnings in the QI program implementations, the positive outcome, and the barriers noted in a team-based care model to help overcome therapeutic inertia and improve statin use.