METRIC User Testimonials

The testimonials below reflect some of the comments we have received from doctors since METRIC went live in January 2005. The primary purpose for the development of METRIC was to meet the requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MC-FP) Part IV, but over 30% of our participants are completing METRIC for reasons other than MC-FP Part IV.

We are very interested in hearing your comments about your experience in using METRIC. The feedback we receive helps to improve our program for you, the user. If you are interested in leaving any comments, please e-mail them to metric@aafp.org.

User Testimonials
11/6/05 – G G (CAD)
I believe by explaining the quideline goals to my patients, they take a more proactive approach to their health. The METRIC program was surprisingly easy to follow.

1/21/06 – S W (CAD)
This program was very useful in reminding me to ask patients about their level of physical activity. In the future, I will focus more on prescribing ACE inhibitors or ARB’s for all of my patients with CAD, and also work on achieving tighter blood pressure control.

10/12/05 – M B (Diabetes)
The METRIC program made me more aware of my practice regarding diabetics including micro albumin screening, flu shots, and use of aspirin. It has definitely improved my care of diabetic patients.

4/20/05 – K B (Diabetes)
The interventions I selected helped improve most parameters measured. Reviewing the guidelines and sharing them with the office staff and patients seemed well worth the time and effort. The flow sheets created a systematic way to track the adherence to the guidelines. I look forward to completing other modules.

2/9/06 – C C (Diabetes)
Use of this module allowed me to implement flow sheets into my practice. Without question, using a flow sheet allowed to better care for my patients. My patients are healthier as a result of my participation in this activity. I have since implemented a Hypertension flow sheet that has dramatically improved my care for that disease state.

11/10/05 – M C (Diabetes)
METRIC helped reemphasize a quality care that all physicians should practice. The process is easy to follow and it’s fast once one gets the rhythm.

7/27/05 – K H (Diabetes)
I feel this program has markedly improved my care of diabetic patients. Establishing a patient registry, utilizing flow sheets, and negotiating goals with the patient have been most beneficial.

9/29/05 – R H (Diabetes)
The discipline has been good; I am surprised that my results were not “better”. There remains MUCH room for improvement and I will work toward that.

8/14/05 – J K (Diabetes)
This is an excellent program. I look forward to doing it again. Should be expanded to many other conditions. Great job!

4/21/05 – G N (Diabetes)
METRIC experience is fabulous. It gives me better ideas how my peers have been doing and organize different ways to help me to manage my patients with diabetes.

9/12/05 – S P (Diabetes)
Simply paying attention to standards of care and performing a self-evaluation is helpful for overall patient care.

5/3/06 – B P (Diabetes)
Better use of flow sheets helped immensely – you can think that you are doing everything you should for the patient, but it is so easy to forget things.

2/3/06 – J P (Diabetes)
METRIC brought to my attention areas that needed improvement and I was able to implement some of these. I still have further work to do to get my patients in the best control possible, but this module has allowed me to see my deficits and pay closer attention to areas of concern.

12/10/05 - M R (Diabetes)
It was an excellent experience in system change and improvement. We plan to do asthma next. Thanks.

4/70/06 – G R (Diabetes)
Registry is a tremendous tool in attaining higher patient follow-up and compliance. For many patients negotiated goal setting improved their outcomes and care.

3/10/06 – S S (Diabetes)
METRIC helped me to realize we needed a better follow-up and importance of creating diabetes care team.

6/16/07 – T S (Diabetes)
The METRIC program was easy and fun to use. I was curious to discover how my care would “measusre up” with that of my peers. It was interesting and simple to collect the data-I could hardly wait for the 6 month interval to end! The program reinforced the way I treat and follow-up patients with Diabetes Mellitus-2. Entering the next 10 charts (6 months later) demonstrated to me the value of doing a chart review at regularly scheduled intervals. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this program. Your valuable assistance was appreciated.

10/24/06 – T S (Diabetes)
I found this process exceedingly useful, in that the chart review clearly shows significant areas for improvement regarding parameters that I consider extremely important in the management of the diabetic. It is clear to me that while my office is starting the process of implementing process improvements, this needs to be a permanent push.

9/29/05 – P S (Diabetes)
This intervention was very helpful in improving the processes of care for my diabetic patients. The steps of METRIC were easy to follow and the materials in this module contributed so much in improvement of my practice.

12/4/05 – B S (Diabetes)
METRIC intervention helped me review my charts and be more aggressive about implementing the diabetic guidelines.

7/27/05 – S S (Diabetes)
Added to my overall care of the diabetic patient by increasing my awareness.

12/4/05 – K T (Diabetes)
It helps one see that one has room for improvement.

12/20/05 – R W (Diabetes)
I think it was very helpful to start the process of better identification of diabetic patients, staff recall of patients who haven’t met goals, negotiated goals with the patients. This is no question in my mind that this improves care.

8/12/05 – M W (Diabetes)
Use of registry helpful. We have also “hard-wired” our processes to ensure flow sheets are on each chart and updated regularly. METRIC has helped give us direction for improvement.

7/19/06 – J W (Diabetes)
Completing even just the initial assessment 6 months ago was helpful in spurring me on to improve my monitoring for aspirin therapy, something that I was missing routinely. I’m pleased to see that improved from previous.

11/20/05 – J W (Diabetes)
This was a very easy and quick assessment tool that taught me a lot about how well I actually am caring for my patients with diabetes. It has made a difference in how I practice, and how aggressive I am now at controlling aspects of this disease.

1/23/06 – H W (Diabetes)
The METRIC approach has identified weaknesses in our system that we are in process of correcting.

7/27/06 – M W (Diabetes)
Initially, it was very important for me to develop a complete database of my diabetic patients and to do the initial chart review and assessment. This allowed me to focus on areas of needed improvement. Also, it was critical to establish baseline criteria and establish practice goals that were evidence-based. After completing the initial evaluation we developed a diabetic flowchart that incorporated specific areas of assessment along with a specific time line to initiate the values. This flow-sheet was clearly visible in the chart and my office staff continually focused on the time line and made certain that laboratory and clinical assessments were incorporated in a timely fashion. Overall, I agree that this is a very successful chronic care module.

10/3/05 - A D (Diabetes)
The patient registry and flow sheets are a valuable aid to help me keep track of my diabetic patients.

10/21/05 – G N (Diabetes)
I found how much progress these patients made with my care and able to compare with my peers.

06/15/06 - M R (Diabetes)
The systems approach was very beneficial and I look forward to doing the asthma one.

12/5/06 - P F (Diabetes)
I created a diabetes patient registry, which is truly impacting our practice.