quality reports : Clinical Quality : Medical Group Performance


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Pediatric Care:
Follow-up with Children Starting Medication for ADHD

Healthcare quality measure: This measure looks at children (6 to 12 years old) starting medication for ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). It shows the percentage of children who had a follow-up visit with the doctor within 30 days of starting the medication.

Reasons for this measure: ADHD affects children in many ways. It can cause behavior problems that:

  • Make it hard for children to focus and pay attention.
  • Cause children to be too active or not very patient.
  • Make it hard for children to do well in school.
  • Affect how well children get along with their family and friends.
More than four million children (ages 4 to 17) have ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD has increased by 3 percent each year since 2006. More than half of all children with ADHD take medication to help with behavior problems. Most children respond well and have no major side effects. But sometimes there can be problems or medication needs to be changed. This is why doctors should follow-up with children within 30 days of starting ADHD medication.

Click on a column heading to put the results below in order.
Medical Group
Comparison
Rate
Rating
Benchmarks:
   Nat'l Average
   90th Percentile
   MA Rate		 National Average
National 90th Percentile
MA Rate
35.8%
45.0%
47.3%		  
Atrius Health, Inc., Harvard Vanguard Kenmore
Go to Website Go to Group's Website 		  no data available

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MA Rate (47.3%)

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Explanation of the Star Ratings...

  • above three benchmarksabove three benchmarksabove three benchmarksabove three benchmarks Four stars means the rate is above three benchmarks
  • above two benchmarksabove two benchmarksabove two benchmarksabove two benchmarks Three stars means the rate is above two benchmarks
  • above one benchmarkabove one benchmarkabove one benchmarkabove one benchmark Two stars means the rate is above one benchmark
  • not above benchmarksnot above benchmarksnot above benchmarksnot above benchmarks One star means the rate is not above benchmarks
  • no data available MHQP has too little data to report on this measure. This can happen when the patients or illnesses a medical group cares for are not part of this report.

The three benchmarks used for comparison are:

  • The MHQP Massachusetts Statewide Rate
  • The National 90th Percentile
  • The National Average

Click here to view the MHQP Massachusetts Statewide Rates
and National benchmarks.

For more information on benchmarks, please see Questions & Answers.

Ways your doctor can help...

  • Diagnose ADHD only after: finding out how your child functions over time; talking with you and your child; learning more from your child’s teacher or others about his or her behavior.
  • As needed, prescribe medication for ADHD. The doctor should also plan a follow-up visit to check how well this medication is working.
  • Answer all your questions about ADHD and treatment options.
  • As needed, refer your child to a mental health or child development specialist. The specialist can give your child tests or offer other needed ADHD treatments.

Ways you can help...

  • Let your child’s doctor know if you think your child has behavior problems.
  • Make and keep all follow-up visits with your child’s doctor. It may take a while to diagnose ADHD.
  • Ask your child’s doctor about his or her training, experience, and resources for treating ADHD.
  • Make sure your child takes his or her medicine correctly. You can find directions on the label of each medication bottle.
  • Let your doctor know if your child has any medication side effects.
  • Learn about ADHD. The list below has ways to do that.

Ways to learn more...

 

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