Development of Order Sets to Improve the Rate of Obesity Counseling by Healthcare Providers in a Women’s Health Clinic

Obesity is health epidemic associated with health conditions specific to women’s health. Healthcare providers must identify and develop a follow-up plan for patients with a body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m2 to meet the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Quality Program rate for body mass index screening and follow-up. Barriers to addressing obesity in this population by healthcare providers include time available for counseling and knowledge about appropriate diagnosis and treatment options. This is a quality improvement project that implements a clinical template within an existing electronic health record platform that includes a treatment order set and prepopulated counseling prompts to improve the rate of which healthcare providers address obesity within the women’s health clinic. After 12 weeks, 27 patients started a weight management plan, and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System rate increased from 59% to 67%. Implementation of order set templates into electronic health record platforms with counseling guidance provides a framework for providers to develop a plan to address obesity to meet their patient’s health goals and reduce health disparities related to obesity in women.