Implementation Strategies for Frontline Healthcare Professionals: People, Process Mapping, and Problem Solving

Implementation science is focused on developing and evaluating methods to reduce gaps between research and practice. As healthcare organizations become increasingly accountable for equity, quality, and value, attention has been directed to identifying specific implementation strategies that can accelerate the adoption of evidence-based therapies into clinical practice. In this perspective, we offer three simple, practical strategies that can be used by frontline healthcare providers who are involved in on-the-ground implementation: people (stakeholder) engagement, process mapping, and problem solving. As a use case example, we describe the iterative application of these strategies to the implementation of a new home sleep apnea testing program for patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) healthcare system.