Improve Patient Access

Access to care includes patient access to visits, non-visits, and information for care. Quality of care and avoidance of unwarranted hospitalizations and emergency department utilization are related to better access to primary care.

Why is this important

  • Improved access has been shown to improve clinician productivity and satisfaction

  • Patients have an increasing ability to comparison shop and will demand that clinicians offer good access and amenities such as booking appointments online.

  • As we move toward risk and value-based care for populations, it will be increasingly important to keep patients out of high-cost settings.

How will these tools help?

  • Access is one of the most important reasons why patients select and stay with a practice

  • Improve patient satisfaction

  • Improve continuity of care

  • Increase staff and clinician job satisfaction

  • Improve customer loyalty

  • Higher likelihood that patients will see their own physician for all visits

  • Competitive advantage (retail health clinics, telehealth)

 

Target Audience

This module is intended to be used by the following practice staff:

  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Registered Nurses
  • Medical Assistants
  • Practice Managers

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the issues and workflows that affect patient access in your practice setting.

  • Identify strategies that can be implemented in your practice setting to improve access.

  • Implement strategies to improve patient access using the relevant resources and tools referenced in the module.

  • Assess how well your practice has implemented strategies for improving patient access in your practice setting by completing the module biopsy.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Attendance
Course opens: 
03/21/2019
Course expires: 
03/31/2022
Cost:
$0.00
Parent activity set: 
Building the Foundation
Rating: 
0

Practice Advisor Content Manager

Kellyn Pearson, MSN, APN
Manager Practice Support, American College of Physicians

Contributors

Sara Hayes, MPH
Associate, Center for Patient Partnership, American College of Physicians

Beverley Johnson
President and CEO of the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care

Mary Minniti, BS, CPHQ
Senior Policy and Program Specialist
Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC)

Juliette Schlucter
Director, Center for Child and Family Experience
Sala Institute for Child and Family-Centered Care

Melora Simon, MPH
Program Director, America's Most Valuable Care
Stanford Clinical Excellence Research Center

Jennifer Sweeney, MA
Vice President, National Partnership for Women and Families

Staff Editors

Wendy Nickel, MPH
Director Center for Patient Partnership, American College of Physicians

Margo Williams
Senior Associate, Practice Management

Samantha Stimpert
Practice Support Coordinator

 

 

 

 

    Available Credit

    • 1.00 Attendance

    Accreditation Period

    Course opens: 
    03/21/2019
    Course expires: 
    03/31/2022

    Price

    Cost:
    $0.00
    Please login or register to take this course.