Primary care staff perspectives on a virtual learning collaborative to support medical home implementation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Improvement Science
• Virtual Learning Environments
• Primary Care Transformation

Background:

• Quality Improvement Collaboratives (QICs) are increasingly conducted virtually to enhance reach and reduce costs.
• Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness and participant experience of virtual QICs for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) implementation.
• Understanding factors influencing success and participant perspectives is crucial for optimizing virtual collaborative models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey participants of a virtual collaborative (VC) supporting PCMH implementation.
• To identify factors influencing the VC's effectiveness and participant experiences.
• To gather insights for improving future virtual collaborative initiatives.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was administered to 353 primary care staff (providers, nurses, support staff).
• The survey assessed perceived usefulness, impact, and acceptability of VC activities, exploring variations by role, setting, prior training, and engagement.
• Quantitative (Chi-square tests) and qualitative (thematic analysis of free-response items) methods were used.

Main Results:

• Full participation and prior PCMH training were associated with greater perceived benefit from the VC.
• Participants valued peer-to-peer experience sharing.
• Barriers to participation included staffing shortages, lack of protected time, and insufficient leadership support.
• Non-providers and those new to PCMH found content less relevant to their needs.

Conclusions:

• Virtual collaboratives can be effective for PCMH implementation, particularly for engaged participants with relevant experience.
• Addressing barriers such as time constraints and tailoring content to diverse roles are key for optimizing virtual collaborative models.
• Findings offer practical lessons for designing and implementing virtual QICs, emphasizing the importance of frontline staff input.