How It All Began
Efforts were underway to engage patients with diabetes whose A1c were >9. The intention was to invite them to schedule an appointment per clinical guidelines. This is a clinical quality measure being tracked by VFC and scheduling patient follow-up appointments for those with uncontrolled diabetes was the goal. The PTN Quality Improvement Consultant working with the Population Health Coordinator in partnership with the Health Education Department utilized health literacy principles to create a customized, patient friendly letter to send to patients requesting they contact the clinic to schedule a follow-up appointment. This PDSA began in January 2017 and the approach has been moved from a pilot to the new standard. It has been able to be sustained in a busy office practice.
Practice Description:
Venice Family Clinic's mission is to provde quality primary health care to people in need. Venice Family Clinic is the first choice in affordable health care for low-income, uninsured and homeless families and individuals. We serve everyone from infants, children and teens to adults and seniors. Our patients are most highly concentrated on the Westside, but many come from across Los Angeles County.
Venice Family Clinic provides more than 114,512 primary care, specialty care, mental health, dental, and health education visits annually. Services include diagnosis, treatment, medications, follow-up care, and laboratory tests. Particular emphasis is placed on the needs of women, children, the homeless, and those with chronic diseases.
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Partnership Activities:
CBOs involved on quality improvement team
Patient/family satisfaction surveys
Patients/Families involved in quality improvement team
