SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Pro-Change Behavior Systems Inc. is collaborating with the Rhode Island Quality Institute using a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ grant of $8.3 million to improve screening and evidence-based responses for tobacco cessation and weight loss management using its HealthCoach for Me software.
Pro-Change customized HealthCoach for Me specifically for the pilot program to leverage Pro-Change’s Health Risk Intervention and LifeStyle Management programs, according to an announcement from the company on the collaboration. As part of the program, patients complete a brief online self-assessment in the waiting or exam room to determine their risks before meeting with their doctor, nurse or clinician.
When patients meet with their health care provider after filling out the web-based form, the medical professional has immediate access to actionable insights via a clinical dashboard, based on the patient’s readiness to change. The dashboard displays the patient’s risks, enabling the clinician to deliver a brief, tailored behavior change message matched to the patient’s ability and willingness to adopt the new behaviors.
Sara S. Johnson, co-president & CEO of Pro-Change, said the pilot is a an example of ProChange’s commitment to partnering with health care practices, clinicians and other health care providers to help improve the health of their patients.
Practices participating in the pilot program include Asthma and Allergy Physicians of Rhode Island in Providence; multiple sites of University Orthopedics; Diabetes Care Solutions in South Kingstown; CODAC Behavioral Healthcare South County in South Kingstown; and Center for Treatment and Recovery in Pawtucket.
The Rhode Island Quality Institute is one of 29 learning networks designated by the CMS’ Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative to coach, mentor and assist clinicians in improving care to meet CMS quality measures required by the Affordable Care Act. Johnson said Pro-Change was contacted by RIQI with the idea in January.
JoEllen Goldberg, senior clinical practice advisor at Rhode Island Quality Institute, said it was aware of Pro-Change’s work based on James O. Prochaska’s transtheoretical model of behavior change (Prochaska founded Pro-Change), and asked Johnson to speak to RIQI about it several months ago.
Later, when were searching for a partner to help improve health outcomes, RIQI reached out to Johnson at Pro-Change, Goldberg said. She said the approach is key to determining when people are ready to make healthy changes.
“We really love the model,” Goldberg said.
“This is all to their credit. This is a great idea,” Johnson said. She said the pilot will be judged on whether the practices improve in weight-loss and smoking cessation according to CMS quality metrics.
“The Pro-Change system aligns well with the TCPI aim to improve health outcomes for patients and with the goal of building on and spreading existing change methodologies. Understanding where a patient is on the continuum of change is vital toward helping clinicians offer the right resources at the right time,” said Darlene M. Morris, senior director, development & grants at TCPI.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. He can be reached at Borkowski@PBN.com.
