Elements of Effective Chronic Care: A Model for Optimizing Outcomes for the Chronically Ill.

Current estimates are that there are 2.3 million individuals with epilepsy among 99 million Americans suffering from chronic medical conditions. The healthcare system is designed to treat acutely ill patients and, as a result, often fails to meet the needs of the chronically ill. Care is provided in brief, problem-focused visits. Multiple studies have shown that this type of standard practice produces suboptimal care and outcomes, and is unsatisfactory to both patients and care providers. We developed the Chronic Care Model in an effort to synthesize system and practice changes associated with better outcomes. In patient care as described in this model, patient-provider interactions are planned in advance in accordance with evidence-based guidelines. A primary focus is on assisting patients and their families in becoming competent self-managers. The Chronic Care Model has been successfully implemented by more than 200 healthcare systems. In this paper, we explore the applicability of the Chronic Care Model in managing patients with epilepsy.