Lessons Learned when Implementing Electronic Health Record-based Referrals to Diabetes Prevention Program Classes in a Rural County

Abstract

One in three Americans has prediabetes, yet 90% are unaware they have this condition which increases risk of type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2018). The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a lifestyle change intervention that can delay or prevent progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2019). Since 2016, healthcare organizations in a rural Wisconsin county have worked to implement electronic health record (EHR)-based programs for identifying patients with prediabetes and referring them to DPP classes. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers, best practices, and lessons learned in two healthcare organizations involved in this project. A qualitative design was used for this program evaluation study. Participants were purposively selected staff members involved with program implementation (N=4). They included DPP key informants from each organization, a provider, and an information technology administrator. Data were collected using open-ended questions in electronic survey format and analyzed for themes in three categories: challenges or barriers; best practices; and lessons learned. The study was approved by the UW Eau Claire Institutional Review Board.