As part of a health system diabetes prevention initiative, we implemented and evaluated if an EHR clinical decision support tool improves diabetes screening rates. The EHR clinical decision support tool, implemented in 7/2021, alerts clinicians when a patient is due for diabetes screening based on USPSTF 2021 guidelines (BMI ≥25 kg/m² and age 35-70 years). The primary outcome was the monthly screening lab order rate, % patients eligible for screening who received a lab order during their primary care visit in that month. The secondary outcome was the monthly screening lab completion rate, % patients eligible for screening who completed a screening lab test during their primary care visit in that month. We used logistic regression to evaluate changes in outcomes from baseline to post-implementation periods. In a tertiary health system, 16,431 eligible primary care patients were seen between 7/2020-12/2022. At baseline (7/2020-7/14/21), screening lab order and completion rates were 65% and 58%, respectively. Rates increased significantly in the post-implementation period (1/2022-12/2022) compared to baseline (lab orders: OR 1.7, p<0.001, completion: OR 1.8, p<0.001). Our study demonstrates an EHR clinical decision support tool, in the context of a system-wide initiative, can successfully improve diabetes screening rates. These findings support other healthcare organizations to explore clinical support tools for diabetes screening.
E. Tseng: None. N. Mathioudakis: None. N. M. Maruthur: Other Relationship; Johns Hopkins HealthCare Solutions. H. Yeh: None. A. Stein: None.
National Institutes of Health (K23DK118205)
