Signs found that chronic care model works

SEATTLE, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The Chronic Care Model, adopted by more than 1,500 practices worldwide, seems to work, U.S. researchers say.

The review of 82 studies, published in Health Affairs, finds this model helps people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes or asthma stay healthier and get better care than they would with the more usual "fragmented" care.

"Like an auto body shop, U.S. healthcare is set up for quick fixes to acute problems," review lead author Katie Coleman of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle said in a statement. "But for chronic problems, this can be expensive, ineffective and inefficient."

Dr. Ed Wagner, also of Group Health, the review co-author who developed the model more than 15 years ago, says it has been "adopted more widely than we ever dreamed. We felt obliged to see if the accumulating evidence justifies this spread. We're cautiously optimistic that it does."

The Chronic Care Model is made up of six interrelated system changes: effective team care, planned interactions, self-management support, community resources, integrated decision support, and patient registries and other supportive information technology.

Electronic medical records are useful but not required, the researchers say.

"There's no magic bullet, including information technology," said Group Health's Brian Austin, a review co-author. "No single element suffices alone."