Which of the following is true about the six essential elements of quality chronic care?

• A. Health System Leadership and Support; Community Resources; Self-Management Support; Delivery System Design; Decision Support; Clinical Information Systems
• B. They are only patient education and reminders
• C. They involve only hospital settings
• D. They are defined by patient demand

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is the Chronic Care Model’s six essential elements for quality chronic care. Care improves when the health system provides leadership and support, connects with community resources, offers self-management support, designs delivery systems that are proactive and team-based, uses decision support for evidence-based care, and employs clinical information systems to monitor patients and guide treatment. The option that lists exactly these six elements is the best answer because it fully embodies the model; statements that reduce the model to patient education and reminders, limit care to hospital settings, or claim it’s defined by patient demand miss the systemic, collaborative framework that drives quality chronic care.