Perceptions of Ambulatory Workflow Changes in an Academic Primary Care Setting

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Medicine
• Team-Based Care Models

Background:

• The shift to value-based healthcare necessitates efficient team-based care models.
• Engaging certified medical assistants (CMAs) can enhance provider focus and visit efficiency.
• Standardizing CMA roles can scale best practices across healthcare institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of standardized workflow components on CMA engagement and satisfaction in adult primary care.
• To identify challenges and opportunities in optimizing CMA roles within an academic medical center.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted to assess various components of the CMA workflow in adult primary care practices.
• The study focused on an academic medical center setting.
• Analysis of survey data identified areas of success and challenges in workflow standardization.

Main Results:

• Standardized workflow changes generally led to improved CMA engagement and satisfaction.
• Time constraints and provider discretion frequently resulted in unplanned workflow modifications.
• Medication reconciliation emerged as a particularly challenging task for CMAs.

Conclusions:

• While standardization offers benefits, flexibility is needed to address real-world practice constraints.
• Re-evaluating the scope of CMA involvement in medication reconciliation may be necessary.
• Continued innovation in team-based care models is crucial for meeting quality demands in healthcare.