Update: Practice Reporting and Transformation Best Practice Sharing Committee

  • 04 Mar 2021

During the February 24 meeting, PCMH Kids Cohort 3 practices discussed outcomes from implementing their Performance Improvement Plans, many of which show improving immunization rates within their practices. Some practices indicated that they have learned how to use the KIDSNET registry for immunization data reports and other functions. Some targeted repointing strategies included:

  • using visit cancellation reports and working with front desk staff to maximize efforts to reschedule appointments at the time that the parent is cancelling the visit;
  • generating reports that capture children who are overdue and capturing if children have another scheduled appointment;
  • looking at obtaining data that captures children behind on well-child visits and immunizations and addressing both issues at the same time;
  • assuring that reports are accurate and discharging patients who no longer are coming into the practice;
  • standardizing the frequency when reports are generated and reviewed by the team; and
  • how to use reports to help inform pre-visit planning. 

 

Practices have also used information and parent feedback to identify scheduling needs and added scheduling opportunities such as: vaccine-only appointments, Saturday/evening appointments, appointments with more than one child. Personalized outreach using community health workers who can use designated funds to address barriers to care have been very successful. Some practices are exploring how to make better use of technology (such as texting, increasing use of the portal) to improve communication and reduce staff time. While most practices focused on improving immunizations, Santiago joined forces with the Home Asthma Response Program (HARP) to identify children who had two or more emergency department visits and have home visits made through St. Joseph’s Health Center to improve asthma knowledge, and trigger exposures, which has been very effective in reducing ED visits for asthma conditions.