Improving multidisciplinary approaches in obesity in primary care
The American Academy of Pediatrics Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation partnered to conduct the Childhood Obesity Performance Improvement Project (COPI) Collaborative. COPI was a 12-month, practice-level, quality improvement collaborative to improve practice systems for youth, ages 3-17, with overweight or obesity. Aims focused on aligning practice systems with the evidence base, improving care coordination between pediatric practices and RDs, and facilitating use of the Healthier Generation Benefit (HGB). The HGB insurance benefit guaranteed annual coverage for at least four follow-up weight management visits each with a primary care provider and an RD. [Project completed in 2016]
IMPACT: Evaluation results linked participation in COPI with improvements in various aspects of evidence-informed care, practice/RD collaboration, and utilization of the HGB/insurance, although some persistent insurance barriers were common. Participants also reported an increased level of knowledge regarding general processes for improving care.