(August 2008) Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent and costly of all health problems in the nation, and because they occur more frequently among vulnerable populations, safety-net hospitals provide a disproportionate share of treatment for these conditions. This Research Brief, the first of a series on promising public hospitals programs to address chronic illnesses, focuses on diabetes care. It presents findings from a 2008 study of diabetes care programs among NAPH members, summarizing common themes of such efforts and offering descriptions of specific promising interventions.

(April 2008) This monograph presents findings from the 2007 NPHHI study on obesity treatment in public hospitals. Funded by Morrison Healthcare Food Services, the study included a survey of NAPH members to ascertain the range and characteristics of public hospital obesity treatment programs. This monograph offers analyses of collected data (sample size: 69 obesity programs at 41 NAPH member facilities), as well as in-depth case studies of quantitatively successful programs at five safety-net hospitals.

(November 2007) With guidance from an advisory board of experts at NAPH facilities, NPHHI conducted a study of NAPH members to better understand the scope of public hospital obesity-related interventions. This Research Brief provides a summary of the study results. For more detailed findings, please see the related monograph, published in April 2008.

(June 2005) With support from The Commonwealth Fund, NPHHI conducted a survey of diabetes patients who received care from four hospital systems: Cambridge Health Alliance, Community Health Network of San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital, Cook County Health & Hospitals Systems, and LSU/Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans. This report summarizes survey results, including information on overall patient satisfaction with diabetes care, access to important diabetes-related services, individual diabetes management, health status, and communication with health care providers.

(May 2005) This Monograph provides a brief overview of the challenges that public hospitals and health systems face in attempting to improve chronic care. It offers case studies of chronic care improvement efforts in six public hospitals and health systems, and reviews the three models that have become the foundation for chronic care improvement. Finally, the report concludes by exploring common themes and offering recommendations for hospitals to consider in managing chronic care patients.