HealthPartners, Park Nicollet and Stillwater Medical Group clinics receive recognition for improved patient care and outcomes

Minnesota Bridges to Excellence rewards clinics for excellence in diabetes, vascular and depression care

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – August 11, 2015 – The Minnesota Health Action Group has recognized HealthPartners, Park Nicollet and Stillwater Medical Group clinics for delivering optimal care and improving specific patient outcomes. The clinics were rewarded a total of $308,761 as a part of the Minnesota Bridges to Excellence (MNBTE) program and the Minnesota Quality Incentive Payment System.

The clinics focused on making improvements in diabetes, vascular and depression care, which are known to be primary drivers of health care costs. The Minnesota Bridges to Excellence program recognized and rewarded 36 HealthPartners, Park Nicollet and Stillwater Medical Group clinics for their accomplishments.

The Minnesota Bridges to Excellence program, which was established by the Minnesota Health Action Group in 2006, and the State’s Quality Incentive Payment System implemented in 2011, relies on clinical data that is publicly reported to identify clinics that qualify for a reward for meeting or exceeding optimal care standards for a specified percentage of patients with diabetes, vascular disease and depression.

To be eligible for a reward, clinics must have a certain percentage of patients at optimal levels of care or significantly increase the number over the previous year. Vascular disease measurements include levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, along with non-smoking status, and daily aspirin for all patients. Optimal diabetes measures include levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, along with non-smoking status and daily aspirin use. For patients with depression, optimal measures showed an improvement in patients’ depression over a six month period of time.

A complete list of reward recipients can be found at mnhealthactiongroup.org.