Lifestyle Medicine 2015

Improving health behaviors, increasing patient self-management and reducing preference-sensitive surgeries represent key strategies for achieving the Triple Aim and optimizing provider and patient engagement as health care systems move toward an ACO model of care. Building on the AHRQ “Prescription for Health” findings, UPMC has applied Six Sigma tools to optimize a process to support providers in practicing lifestyle medicine. The model focuses on physician initiation with a prescription for healthy behavior change and care engagement, with a referral to a health coach for follow-up support. Building on known best practices, the process has applicability across practice settings (primary and specialty care) and EMR systems as a practical method for physicians to address key drivers of health and cost in population health management, while minimizing patient barriers to accessing support. This case study summarizes the approach, designs, early outcomes and lessons learned for this system-wide innovation.

We are living at the dawn of the information age, in which digital tools are increasingly been used to assist in lifestyle change and weight management. The tools available, which include apps, wearable trackers, automatic nutrient trackers and online tools are growing exponentially and clinicians are often overwhelmed by this and don't know how to best utilize these tools in practice. In this session, we will review the scope of existing tools focusing on tools for adults aimed at modifying diet and exercise patterns, summarize the evidence about their effectiveness, explore design trends that will shape these tools in the years to follow and also offer practical advice for how to best use these tools in clinical practice.