New Jersey Hospital Uses AHRQ Research in Its Continuing Medical Education

Kimball Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, is developing a continuing medical education training series as a result of participating in AHRQ's February 2009 Web conference, "Comparative Effectiveness, Safety, and Indications of Insulin Analogues in Premixed Formulations for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes." The Web conference was offered as part of AHRQ's Comparative Effectiveness Knowledge Transfer Project for Pharmacists.

As a result of information learned during the Web conference, Kimball Medical Center is developing a three-phase education program for its clinical faculty aimed at decreasing adverse events and improving treatment outcomes in patients with hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. During the first phase, nurses will be educated about the insulin products that are available. The second phase will provide similar training with continuing medical education credit for physicians. The final phase will encompass an insulin analogues ordering form for nurses and physicians to use that will guide treatment decisions based on the current best-practice guidelines.

Jessica Hill, PharmD, RPh, at Kimball Medical Center, participated in the Web conference. She notes, "The insulin analogues Web conference was well organized and informative. AHRQ is a good resource that presents information in a simple way for the hospital setting."

During the AHRQ Web conference, participants received an overview of AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program and highlights of a research review titled Comparative Effectiveness, Safety, and Indications of Insulin Analogues in Premixed Formulations for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, including information on how the report can be applied to the pharmacy setting. The event provided participants with scientific evidence evaluating the safety and effectiveness of newer therapies, including the insulin analogues, relative to conventional insulin and non-insulin antidiabetic therapies in achieving glycemic control.

Kimball Medical Center was one of 171 participants in the Web conference event, which targeted clinical pharmacists and decision-makers responsible for making treatment and formulary decisions for patients with type 2 diabetes. St. Barnabas Health Care System employs more than 4,750 physicians and 443 residents throughout New Jersey.

For more information on the Insulin Analogues Web conference, go to: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/components/webinar/04242009/files/lobby.html.

To access the comparative effectiveness report, go to http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=rr&ProcessID=18&Docid=108.