Primary care transformation, supported by HealthTeamWorks, underway in Tuba City, Ariz.

Like many healthcare organizations, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC), based in Tuba City, Ariz., is adopting patient-centered medical home practice. The organization comprises a regional hospital, emergency services, primary and specialty care clinics on the main campus and four satellite clinic sites, to include community health center mobile medical and dental units serving rural and school-based sites throughout the Western Navajo Chapters. TCRHCC serves individuals who live in a 6,000-square-mile region that’s also part of the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute reservations.

Transforming primary care delivery to the medical home model will allow TCRHCC to align with new value-based reimbursement models (specifically Arizona’s Medicaid American Indian Medical Home designation). It is working to achieve Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) certification through The Joint Commission. HealthTeamWorks is providing an assessment and recommendations for medical home practice transformation, plus network transformation guidance and care manager training to support TCRHCC on its path to PCMH certification.

HealthTeamWorks completed the evaluation stage within the first month of 2019. This  included a site visit and observation, plus application of survey tools and analysis of data shared by TCRHCC. This in-depth evaluation contributes to HealthTeamWorks’ understanding of TCRHCC’s unique challenges and the needs of its patient population and informs recommendations for next steps.

Over the next 10 months, HealthTeamWorks will assist TCRHCC in its efforts to develop key medical home capabilities, such as care coordination, a whole-person approach to care, data-driven quality improvement, population health, enhanced access to care and continuity of care with a primary care provider.

HealthTeamWorks will also work with TCRHCC to ensure behind-the-scenes transformation —such as refining support team roles and functions and streamlining workflows to improve efficiency and effectiveness—are accomplished in a way that reduces—rather than adds to—the tasks that can be a burden to care delivery.

“We are excited to be digging into this project with TCRHCC and applying expertise HealthTeamWorks refined by guiding more than 4,500 practices to achieve higher quality care and financial sustainability,” said Bert Miuccio, HealthTeamWorks’ chief executive officer. “TCRHCC is investing in its people and community by building workforce skills and vitality while enhancing how care is delivered.“