In Episode 9 of Qualitycast North, Dr. Shyr Chui interviews Dr. Kalah Blackstock about the work she and her team did at the Northern Roots Primary Care Clinic in Smithers, BC.
Dr. Blackstock and her team sought to improve care for diabetic patients, and also worked to prevent downstream complications and empower self-management by focusing on increasing physical exams and frequency of the hemoglobin A1C blood test, which measures average blood sugars over several months.
The goal of this project is to ensure that 75 per cent of diabetic patients have a physical exam and three hemoglobin A1C blood tests annually. The team is working toward this target by creating a standardized diabetic lab requisition, implementing reminder calls to patients, and by coming together to learn about and prioritize quality improvement as a team.
Originally from rural Saskatchewan, Dr. Blackstock is now practising medicine and raising her young family in Smithers. She describes it as a fun place to live and a supportive community to raise a family in. She also loves the “mild” winters.
To listen to the episode, visit the Qualitycast North webpage.
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