Improving lipid screening and management in pediatric primary care through a provider education and reminder program

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends universal lipid screening (ULS) for 9-11-year-old children. Limited available data suggest less than 50% of primary practice providers are using ULS guidelines (ULSG) appropriately. Insufficient implementation of ULS completion contributes to a failure to identify children aged 9-11 with dyslipidemia and can contribute to early cardiovascular disease. This Quality Improvement (QI) project implemented a provider-focused education intervention and retrospective chart review to increase completion of ULS in children aged 9-11 years old and to improve provider management in a pediatric primary care clinic in Central Texas. A one-group pre-test/post-test design was used. Participants included five physicians, 20 nurse practitioners (NPs), and five physician assistants (PAs). Chart review was conducted on all children aged 9-11 years who presented for well-child checks both three months prior to the intervention (n=911) and three months post-intervention (n=1045). A pre-and post-intervention provider survey was used to measure changes in lipid screening provider knowledge and practices. Providers’ knowledge of and completion of lipid screening increased from 70% to 89%. Utilization of educational sessions increased provider knowledge of ULSG and increased the number of 9-11 year-old children screened for dyslipidemia in this clinic.