California School Health Centers Association

CSHC Quality Improvement Leadership Initiative Application

California School Health Centers Association

Quality Improvement Leadership Initiative

Application for 2013-2014

Deadline: September 30, 2013

Overview

As the healthcare landscape continues to change, school based health center (SBHC) practices and systems will need to evolve to allow SBHCs to maximize their potential to contribute to the goals of health care reform. On the practice level, SBHCs need to meet new expectations for patient-centered medical homes (PCMH), including quality improvement, performance measurement, and care coordination. While SBHCs may excel at some aspects of a PCMH model (access, prevention, self-care, and community resources), there are definitely areas for growth. A recent assessment of the field conducted by CSHC, revealed a deficit in the area of quality improvement. If SBHCs are not actively assessing quality measures and implementing improvement plans, they will not be well-positioned to demonstrate their value to health plans, funders, or even their own sponsoring agencies.

Opportunity

In order to strengthen SBHCs in their capacity to engage in quality improvement, CSHC is organizing a group of SBHC staff to participate in a year-long program that will include expert-led training sessions featuring interactive, experiential learning techniques. Participants will also receive resources and tools to support core competency areas and evidence-based practice. We would like each SBHC to send two staff, with additional staff to be considered if funding permits.

The main focus of the QI Leadership Initiative will be the planning and implementation of a small, manageable, Quality Improvement Project (QIP) for the SBHC. In developing the QIP, participants will utilize the collaborative model for breakthrough change, a conceptual framework designed by the Institute for Health Care Improvement. This approach emphasizes use of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for rapid process improvement. More information about this approach can be found here. The program will provide for peer learning, shared accountability, and leadership development. It will build the skills of participants throughout the year-long process.

The QIP will include an assessment of each clinic’s current operations and outcomes using PCMH guidelines and CSHC’s SBHC standards and performance measures. The QIP should focus on a change for the SBHC in one of the following areas:

· Clinical service delivery (e.g., a focus on adolescent care, STI screening programs)

· Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) implementation (e.g., taking steps towards recognition, focus on implementing PCMH elements)

· Clinical Operations (e.g., billing, productivity, patient experience)

· Performance Measurement (e.g., measuring clinical outcomes)

The QIP will help us all learn more about best practices in the field, and participating SBHCs will be recognized statewide for their participation.

Logistics

The QI Leadership Initiative will include 2-3 in-person trainings of approximately 2 days each, combined with webinars and one-on-one support. The exact timing and location will be determined within the next month. Travel and lodging expenses will be covered for all in-person events, and a small clinic stipend may also be available (dependent on funding).

Eligibility/Selection Criteria

SBHC must:

· Provide primary care at least 20 hours per school week as of September, 2013

· Demonstrate enthusiasm for the initiative and commit to attending all required meetings/trainings

· Demonstrate movement toward greater integration with other components of the health care system through one or more of the following:

o Implementing an electronic health record

o Billing of health plans for services

o Plans to seek recognition as a patient-centered medical home

o Coordination of care with another clinical site (e.g., FQHC community site) that serves as a medical home

Note: Priority will be given to SBHCs that are members of CSHC.

SBHC sponsor agency must:

· Demonstrate enthusiasm for participating in the initiative

· Approve all leave and travel associated with the initiative (cost of travel and lodging to be covered by program)

· Approve a Quality Improvement Projected (QIP) to begin implementation during the initiative

· Approve at least two hours a week for QIP required tasks and assignments

· Provide any support (IT assistance, administrative support, leadership direction, etc.) associated with the QIP

Participants must:

· Be employed year-round (or be willing to work through the summer) and dedicate at least 80% of their scope of work to an SBHC.

· Serve in one of the following capacities:

o Directing a multi-site SBHC department

o Managing a SBHC site

o A clinical provider (primary or behavioral health) that can implement a quality improvement project for the SBHC site

o Another position that has the capacity to lead quality improvement activities

CSHC QI Leadership Initiative Application

A. About the SBHC (Note: We believe this project will work best if focused on a single site. However if you wish to include more than one SBHC, please copy this table to provide additional information.)

Name of SBHC:
Date SBHC established:
SBHC Address:
Name of School:
School where SBHC is based is (check all that apply): / £ Elementary school
£ Middle school
£ High school / £ All ages (K-12)
£ Other:
Enrollment at host school (#):
# SBHC patients: (This # should include all unique patients within a 1-year period)
SBHC operating hours:

B. About the SBHC sponsoring agency

Agency:
Type of organization (check only one): / £Community health center/FQHC
£ School district
£ Hospital / £ Non-profit organization
£ Other:
Chief Executive Officer: / Email:
Chief Medical Officer: / Email:

C. About the applicant(s) – please add addition rows if needed. We will consider more than two applicants per SBHC if space/funding permits.

Applicant Name:
Applicant Title:
Years at SBHC:
Please describe your role at the SBHC in a few sentences:
Contact Email:
Contact Phone #:
What has your experience with quality improvement been at the SBHC? / (Please limit your answer to 250 words)
Applicant Name:
Applicant Title:
Years at SBHC:
Please describe your role at the SBHC in a few sentences:
Contact Email:
Contact Phone #:
What has your experience with quality improvement been at the SBHC? / (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

D. Please describe your SBHC’s current or planned work in each of the following areas. Please limit your answer to a total of 600 words

o Implementing an electronic health record

o Billing health plans for services

o Seeking recognition as a patient-centered medical home

o Coordination of care with another clinical site (e.g., FQHC community site) that serves as a medical home

E. Please tell us why you are interested in this program, what you hope to get out of it, and what strengths you bring to this work. Please limit your answer to 400 words or less