Cascino and Oshman named MPrOVE fellows

Thomas Cascino, M.D., M.Sc., clinical lecturer of internal medicine, and Lauren Oshman, M.D., M.P.H., clinical associate professor of family medicine, have been named the inaugural Michigan Program on Value Enhancement (MPrOVE) Fellows. The MPrOVE Fellowship Program provides direct support for IHPI faculty members across campus to pursue innovative research ideas designed to right-size care, leading to value-based projects, partnerships, and research at Michigan Medicine.

Cascino will lead efforts to better match evidence and practice for heart failure patients by collaborating with multiple stakeholders to de-implement the use of potassium supplementation and increase the use of spironolactone, a medication used in the management and treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Current research supports this intervention, and initial data analysis suggests that the current uptake of this medication among eligible heart failure patients is only 50 percent.  

Oshman will lead a project to tackle low-value care and tasks among medical assistant (MA) staff in the Department of Family Medicine. The growing challenge of MA staffing and time has led to delays in rooming, which is the process where nurses familiarize patients with clinical surroundings before transitioning care to physicians or other health professionals. Oshman's project will help to right-size MA tasks and rooming efforts by reducing low-value interventions and tailoring efforts to the needs of patients.