Helping Ambulatory Practices Succeed: Reflections from Practice Transformation Facilitators

Healthcare reform efforts implemented to optimize primary and specialty care delivery require practices to undertake considerable transformation. To support change efforts, many private insurers and federal and state health-reform efforts provide practices and clinicians with access to practice-transformation facilitators. Healthcentric Advisors provides practice-transformation support and technical assistance to practices in Rhode Island and across New England. From this work we know that strategies and approaches to support transformation and achievement of program recognitions differ by practice characteristics, resource access, and patient panels. Understanding practice attitudes and beliefs about change, recognizing that change occurs on a spectrum, acknowledging that program recognition is only the beginning, and aligning quality-improvement initiatives, are domains that support success regardless of practice type. However, working with a facilitator who engages your entire care team to integrate a culture of quality improvement and process ownership, has the greatest impact on overall transformation.