Colorado Residency PCMH Project Findings Published in Family Medicine

Primary care residency pro­grams continue to adapt and change to become high-performing training sites for advanced primary care. Practice facilitation is a key method to assist practices in implementing organizational changes. HealthTeamWorks partnered with Colorado residency programs from 2009 through 2014 to implement key aspects of patient-centered medical home (PCMH) principles into their curriculums. Highlights of the engagement are captured in the evaluation entitled “Practice Facilitation for PCMH Implementation in Residency Practices”, published in the journal Family Medicine in the November/December 2016 issue.

Key results of the study indicate that important practice facilitator roles in residency prac­tice transformation included supporter of quality improvement and NCQA implementation, connector of practices, and leadership and engagement coach. Important qualities included the relationship devel­opment between practice members and facilitators over time, flex­ibility, consistent presence and communication, and an external nature that provided a valuable outside perspective.

The authors (including HealthTeamWorks’ Director of Training & Education Nicole Deaner and Program Manager Emilie Buscaj), conclude that residency programs provide a unique environ­ment that is particularly well-suited for transformation, though it also presents challenges. External practice facilitators that dem­onstrate key roles and qualities can support residency practices through this complex transformation process.  HealthTeamWorks is honored to be part of this important work — click here to read the article.

And visit our Colorado Residency PCMH Project page to learn more about this program.