American Medical Group Association to participate in COPD care management

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and the American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF) are pleased to announce an opportunity for AMGA members to participate in a learning collaborative on care management for patients with COPD. The Best Practices Learning Collaborative is for organizations that are striving to improve the care of patients with COPD. Participants will work together to develop an optimal care framework that includes a comprehensive, patient-centered, value-based approach to chronic care.

The learning collaborative will support improvements in chronic care management systems that focus on improving the care of patients across care settings. Up to fifteen groups will be invited to participate in the collaborative; five will receive $10,000 in educational support over a one-year period; an additional ten organizations will receive travel stipends to attend the collaborative meetings.

Medical groups, IPAs, academic practices, and integrated delivery systems that wish to incorporate the management of COPD into their chronic care models are encouraged to submit an application. Organizations interested in a population-based effort or wanting to launch a pilot program are welcome to participate.

An expert panel of judges will review each application for commitment to common goals such as:

•Early identification and diagnosis of patients at risk for or currently suffering with symptoms of COPD
•Improved medication adherence and compliance
•Continuity of care across settings and transitions of care
•Increased efficiency and reduction of unnecessary or duplicative services and waste
•Increased ability to self-manage symptoms and disease progression through healthier lifestyles
•Improved health and well-being, and patient satisfaction
•Improved physician/patient relationships
•Overall impact on patient care in the community or region