title: Provider perspectives on essential functions for care management in the collaborative treatment of hypertension: the P.A.R.T.N.E.R. framework.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Care management has become a widespread strategy for improving chronic illness care. However, primary care provider (PCP) participation in programs has been poor. Because the success of care management relies on provider engagement, understanding provider perspectives is necessary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to identify care management functions most valuable to PCPs in hypertension treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were conducted to discuss current challenges in hypertension care and identify specific functions of care management that would improve care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 39 PCPs (participation rate: 83 %) representing six clinics, two of which care for large African American populations and four that are in underserved locations, in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative analysis of focus groups, using grounded theory and iterative coding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Providers desired achieving blood pressure control more rapidly. Collaborating with care managers who obtain ongoing patient data would allow treatment plans to be tailored to the changing life conditions of patients. The P.A.R.T.N.E.R. framework summarizes the care management functions that providers reported were necessary for effective collaboration: Partner with patients, providers, and the community; Arrange follow-up care; Resolve barriers to adherence; Track treatment response and progress; Navigate the health care system with patients; Educate patients & Engage patients in self-management; Relay information between patients and/or provider(s).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P.A.R.T.N.E.R. framework is the first to offer a checklist of care management functions that may promote successful collaboration with PCPs. Future research should examine the validity of this framework in various settings and for diverse patient populations affected by chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2024 E. Monument St. Room 2-604C, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA, thussai4@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Tanvir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Allyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halbert
authors.forename: Cheryl A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Romsai Tony
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Boonyasai
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods*; D010823:Physician Assistants; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome