Connecting and Collaborating with our Local Health Departments to Better Serve Our Communities

Abstract

Background: Individuals seeking primary and preventative services across the country has decreased and our local health departments noticed a similar pattern. Services for acute, episodic care are beginning to increase; however, health promotion/prevention and chronic disease management programs continue to struggle to engage individuals. Therefore, to identify strategies to reach back out to communities, stream-line processes, and improve policies and procedures within a health district, an exchange program with clinical managers was proposed for each manager to observe and discuss necessary changes utilizing the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) process.

Methods: The DMAIC process was chosen to assist with identifying problems and creating solutions to manage local barriers and challenges. Clinical managers were paired based on experience, clinical services, and populations served. The clinical managers met on-site at their health departments, devoting time at each location. The clinical managers completed the DMAIC after the exchange program.

Results: A total of 10 clinical managers across 12 counties participated in the exchange program and completed the DMAIC. Three major actions for change were identified. First, transportation is a barrier to clients and local change is necessary. Second, the electronic medical record needs improvements to provide clients with easy access to appointments, personalized material about health needs after appointments, and additions to ensure timely review of the medical record to ensure continuity of care. Finally, creating local outreach advertisements engaging individuals to return for care and reminding communities about the services and programs offered.

Conclusion: The clinical manager exchange program utilizing the DMAIC process was successful in identifying policies and procedures, processes, and needs within our health departments to improve the quality of client care. The ideas and solutions resulted in new initiatives and strategic goals for the local health departments and district leadership.

Keywords: public health, community partnerships, primary care, rural health, primary care, mental health

Keywords

public health, community partnerships, primary care, rural health, primary care, mental health

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Connecting and Collaborating with our Local Health Departments to Better Serve Our Communities

Background: Individuals seeking primary and preventative services across the country has decreased and our local health departments noticed a similar pattern. Services for acute, episodic care are beginning to increase; however, health promotion/prevention and chronic disease management programs continue to struggle to engage individuals. Therefore, to identify strategies to reach back out to communities, stream-line processes, and improve policies and procedures within a health district, an exchange program with clinical managers was proposed for each manager to observe and discuss necessary changes utilizing the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) process.

Methods: The DMAIC process was chosen to assist with identifying problems and creating solutions to manage local barriers and challenges. Clinical managers were paired based on experience, clinical services, and populations served. The clinical managers met on-site at their health departments, devoting time at each location. The clinical managers completed the DMAIC after the exchange program.

Results: A total of 10 clinical managers across 12 counties participated in the exchange program and completed the DMAIC. Three major actions for change were identified. First, transportation is a barrier to clients and local change is necessary. Second, the electronic medical record needs improvements to provide clients with easy access to appointments, personalized material about health needs after appointments, and additions to ensure timely review of the medical record to ensure continuity of care. Finally, creating local outreach advertisements engaging individuals to return for care and reminding communities about the services and programs offered.

Conclusion: The clinical manager exchange program utilizing the DMAIC process was successful in identifying policies and procedures, processes, and needs within our health departments to improve the quality of client care. The ideas and solutions resulted in new initiatives and strategic goals for the local health departments and district leadership.

Keywords: public health, community partnerships, primary care, rural health, primary care, mental health