Is the Kaiser Permanente model superior in terms of clinical integration?: a comparative study of Kaiser Permanente, Northern California and the Danish healthcare system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integration of medical care across clinicians and settings could enhance the quality of care for patients. To date, there is limited data on the levels of integration in practice. Our objective was to compare primary care clinicians' perceptions of clinical integration and three sub-aspects in two healthcare systems: Kaiser Permanente, Northern California (KPNC) and the Danish healthcare system (DHS). Further, we examined the associations between specific organizational factors and clinical integration within each system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Comparable questionnaires were sent to a random sample of primary care clinicians in KPNC (n = 1103) and general practitioners in DHS (n = 700). Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More clinicians in KPNC perceived to be part of a clinical integrated environment than did general practitioners in the DHS (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 2.28, 4.12). Further, more KPNC clinicians reported timeliness of information transfer (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.62, 3.13), agreement on roles and responsibilities (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.47) and established coordination mechanisms in place to ensure effective handoffs (OR = 6.80, 95% CI: 4.60, 10.06). None of the considered organizational factors in the sub-country analysis explained a substantial proportion of the variation in clinical integration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>More primary care clinicians in KPNC reported clinical integration than did general practitioners in the DHS. Focused measures of clinical integration are needed to develop the field of clinical integration and to create the scientific foundation to guide managers searching for evidence based approaches.</p

Central Role of Pyrophosphate in Acellular Cementum Formation

Background: Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) is a physiologic inhibitor of hydroxyapatite mineral precipitation involved in regulating mineralized tissue development and pathologic calcification. Local levels of PPi are controlled by antagonistic functions of factors that decrease PPi and promote mineralization (tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, Alpl/TNAP), and those that increase local PPi and restrict mineralization (progressive ankylosis protein, ANK; ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase-1, NPP1). The cementum enveloping the tooth root is essential for tooth function by providing attachment to the surrounding bone via the nonmineralized periodontal ligament. At present, the developmental regulation of cementum remains poorly understood, hampering efforts for regeneration. To elucidate the role of PPi in cementum formation, we analyzed root development in knock-out ((-/-)) mice featuring PPi dysregulation. Results: Excess PPi in the Alpl(-/-) mouse inhibited cementum formation, causing root detachment consistent with premature tooth loss in the human condition hypophosphatasia, though cementoblast phenotype was unperturbed. Deficient PPi in both Ank and Enpp1(-/-) mice significantly increased cementum apposition and overall thickness more than 12-fold vs. controls, while dentin and cellular cementum were unaltered. Though PPi regulators are widely expressed, cementoblasts selectively expressed greater ANK and NPP1 along the root surface, and dramatically increased ANK or NPP1 in models of reduced PPi output, in compensatory fashion. In vitro mechanistic studies confirmed that under low PPi mineralizing conditions, cementoblasts increased Ank (5-fold) and Enpp1 (20-fold), while increasing PPi inhibited mineralization and associated increases in Ank and Enpp1 mRNA. Conclusions: Results from these studies demonstrate a novel developmental regulation of acellular cementum, wherein cementoblasts tune cementogenesis by modulating local levels of PPi, directing and regulating mineral apposition. These findings underscore developmental differences in acellular versus cellular cementum, and suggest new approaches for cementum regeneration

Abstract 15272: Estimating Life Expectancy of Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Participants Using Pooled Epidemiologic Cohort Data

Introduction: Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment (<120 mm Hg) in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) improved overall survival compared to standard treatment (<140 mm Hg). Economic analyses of SPRINT require extrapolation of treatment effects beyond the trial data. Methods: We projected life expectancy after SPRINT using six US cohort studies in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pooled Cohorts Study (NHLBI-PCS). We included SPRINT-eligible NHLBI-PCS participants as those aged >=50 years with SBP 130-180 mm Hg and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk without diabetes or history of stroke. We used propensity scores to weight NHLBI-PCS participants to resemble SPRINT participants. In SPRINT participants, we estimated in-trial survival (=4 years) using an age-based FPSM and applied the formula to SPRINT participants to predict post-trial survival. We combined in- and post-trial survival to project overall life expectancy for each SPRINT participant and compared it to commonly used Gompertz methods. Results: We included 8,584 SPRINT and 10,610 SPRINT-eligible NHLBI-PCS participants. After propensity weighting, mean (SD) age was 67.9 (9.4) and 68.7 (8.8) years, 35.5% and 38.3% were female in SPRINT and NHLBI-PCS, respectively. Predicted in-trial survival was similar to that observed in SPRINT with both FPSM and Gompertz models (Figure). Assuming constant treatment effects, projected mean life expectancy using the NHLBI-PCS method was 21.1 (7.4) years with intensive and 19.3 (7.2) years with standard treatment; compared to 11.2 (2.3) and 10.5 (2.2) years, respectively, using the Gompertz method. Conclusions: Combining SPRINT and NHLBI-PCS observed data may offer a more realistic estimate of life expectancy than by parametrically extrapolating SPRINT data

Estimating Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Participant Posttrial Survival Using Pooled Epidemiologic Cohort Data

Background Intensive systolic blood pressure treatment (<120 mm Hg) in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) improved survival compared with standard treatment (<140 mm Hg) over a median follow‐up of 3.3 years. We projected life expectancy after observed follow‐up in SPRINT using SPRINT‐eligible participants in the NHLBI‐PCS (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pooled Cohorts Study). Methods and Results We used propensity scores to weight SPRINT‐eligible NHLBI‐PCS participants to resemble SPRINT participants. In SPRINT participants, we estimated in‐trial survival (<4 years) using a time‐based flexible parametric survival model. In SPRINT‐eligible NHLBI‐PCS participants, we estimated posttrial survival (≥4 years) using an age‐based flexible parametric survival model and applied the formula to SPRINT participants to predict posttrial survival. We projected overall life expectancy for each SPRINT participant and compared it to parametric regression (eg, Gompertz) projections based on SPRINT data alone. We included 8584 SPRINT and 10 593 SPRINT‐eligible NHLBI‐PCS participants. After propensity weighting, mean (SD) age was 67.9 (9.4) and 68.2 (8.8) years, and 35.5% and 37.6% were women in SPRINT and NHLBI‐PCS, respectively. Using the NHLBI‐PCS–based method, projected mean life expectancy from randomization was 21.0 (7.4) years with intensive and 19.1 (7.2) years with standard treatment. Using the Gompertz regression, life expectancy was 11.2 (2.3) years with intensive and 10.5 (2.2) years with standard treatment. Conclusions Combining SPRINT and NHLBI‐PCS observed data likely offers a more realistic estimate of life expectancy than parametrically extrapolating SPRINT data alone. These results offer insight into the potential long‐term effectiveness of intensive SBP goals

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime International Network of Drug Dependence Treatment and Rehabilitation Resource Centres: Treatnet

Key to the dissemination of evidence-based addiction treatments is the exchange of experiences and mutual support among treatment practitioners, as well as the availability of accurate addiction training materials and effective trainers. To address the shortage of such resources, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) created Treatnet, a network of 20 drug dependence treatment resource centers around the world. Treatnet's primary goal is to promote the use of effective addiction treatment practices. Phase I of this project included (1) selecting and establishing a network of geographically distributed centers; (2) conducting a capacity-building program consisting of a training needs assessment, development of training packages, and the training of 2 trainers per center in 1 content area each; and (3) creating good-practice documents. Data on the training activities conducted by the trainers during their first 6 months in the field are presented. Plans for Phase II of the Treatnet project are also discussed.Juana Tomás-Rosselló, Richard A. Rawson, Maria J. Zarza, Anne Bellows, Anja Busse, Elizabeth Saenz, Thomas Freese, Mansour Shawkey, Deni Carise, Robert Ali, Walter Lin