Implementation of the Diabetes Practice Guideline in the Army Medical Department
Final Evaluation
ResearchPublished Dec 1, 2005
Final Evaluation
ResearchPublished Dec 1, 2005
In partnership with the Army Medical Department (AMEDD), RAND researchers have been working to implement clinical practice guidelines in treatment of three common ailments (diabetes, asthma, and low back pain). This report is an evaluation of the diabetes practice guideline demonstration. It documents the extent to which intended actions were implemented, assesses short-term effects on clinical practices, and measures the quality and limitations of available data for monitoring practice improvements and clinical outcomes. The authors found that, although the implementation scored some notable successes, resource limitations and organizational barriers curbed overall progress. They conclude that allowing for flexibility, providing adequate resources, and learning from experience are the keys to implementing practice guidelines throughout AMEDD.
The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Army and conducted by the RAND Arroyo Center.
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