Even though clinical research has generated extensive medical evidence regarding the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors, this information is having minimal impact on patient care.

Where is the gap?

A large gap exists between the findings from current medical research and actual medical practice--the CPC is committed to bridging that gap for diabetes care.

For example, despite findings from our ABCD trial that blood pressure control is effective in preventing the complications of diabetes, few patients with diabetes are under treatment to control these factors.

Bridge the Gap is a comprehensive initiative to educate diabetic patients and their health care providers on how to achieve appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol levels to prevent the secondary complications of diabetes.

By doing so, we hope patients with chronic disease, as well as their physicians, will understand how to reach appropriate targets for the treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

This program is a community outreach effort that we believe will improve the health of Colorado citizens.

Program Elements

Our program combines the following elements:

• Educational programs such as focused lectures by opinion leaders in the appropriate field of medicine directed to front-line health care providers in their clinics.
• Practical treatment algorithms, directed toward health care providers, in a convenient quick-reference format.
• Proactive communication about diabetes, delivered by fax or email, and focused directly on information relevant to clinical practice.
• Patient take-away materials, designed to help educate the general public on the effects of diabetes once they are diagnosed.

Program Evaluation

To monitor the effectiveness of our Bridge the Gap program, we conducted a randomized study, the Colorado Quality Impact in Diabetic Care. This study compared outcomes from clinic sites receiving one of two types of presentations of our Bridge the Gap materials to "control" sites, where we are not presenting our material.

The Bride the Gap study was completed in 2003. Currently we are working on analyzing and publishing the results of this trial. Manuscripts and presentations will be forthcoming.

Program Expansion

Bridge the Gap will be expanded to evaluate other populations at risk beyond diabetes. Included are peripheral arterial disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke patients.