Efficient patient flow is crucial to community clinics because it affects patient access, provider and patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and revenue. Improved flow leads to better initial access, greater understanding of patient demand, and effective provider panels. Better patient/provider continuity can strengthen prevention efforts, increase disease detection, and help manage chronic conditions.

To help clinics optimize patient flow, the Optimizing Primary Care Collaborative (OPCC) was launched in 2007 by the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) with 21 community clinic teams. In 2008, a second OPCC was initiated with 24 community clinics. The collaboratives used a learning community framework to help clinic teams set goals, collect data, and measure effects.

Independent Project Evaluation

Upon completion of OPCC in 2009, CHCF supported an evaluation of it by White Mountain Research Associates. The evaluation found marked success overall, with 88% of teams reporting positive changes in at least two access and patient satisfaction measures, especially in access and cycle time. Most clinics also identified the proper size of provider panels which contributed to overall efficiency. OPCC introduced teams to new approaches to system improvement or helped them to use known redesign approaches more strategically.

Both the issue brief summarizing the OPCC project and the White Mountain evaluation report are available under Document Downloads.