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New toolkit can help improve care for patients with chronic care conditions

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a new toolkit that will help improve care for patients who need chronic care. Toolkit for Implementing the Chronic Care Model in an Academic Environment presents a range of materials for implementing the Chronic Care Model in academic health care settings. The toolkit can be adapted and used to teach medical residents the essential components of the Chronic Care Model, such as how to work in a team environment and improve care for patients with chronic illnesses.

In 2005, the Association of American Medical Colleges launched an initiative to promote this innovative approach in academic clinics throughout the country. As part of the Academic Chronic Care Collaborative, it selected four high-performing residency programs to share their successes, challenges, and lessons learned in this interactive toolkit. Designed to transform the way chronic care is delivered, the Chronic Care Model creates a unique, multidisciplinary team approach that empowers patients to become active participants in their own care. The lessons learned by the organizations involved in the Academic Chronic Care Collaborative provide a guide to others implementing the model. Each section is self-contained and addresses the topics of engaging leadership, harnessing the academic culture, putting the Chronic Care Model into practice, and health professions education for chronic care.

To view the toolkit, go to www.ahrq.gov/populations/chroniccaremodel/.

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