Team-Based Approach to Successful Annual Wellness Visits

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Systems Science

Background:

• Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) are crucial for preventive care.
• Optimizing AWV delivery is essential for patient health and healthcare system efficiency.
• Previous models may not have fully met the demand or operational needs for AWVs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a two-phase strategy to rapidly increase the number of annual wellness visits (AWVs).
• To establish a sustainable model for delivering AWVs within a large healthcare system.
• To improve operational efficiency in the delivery of preventive care services.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase approach was utilized, starting with a rapid improvement phase focused on prioritization and workflow optimization.
• The second phase involved collaboration to design and implement a best-practice solution, incorporating lessons learned from the initial phase.
• Key interventions included staff education, workflow redesign, outreach automation, and visit scheduling tools.

Main Results:

• Monthly AWV completion increased across all study units.
• Following the implementation of outreach automation and visit tools, AWV numbers were sustained or increased, with decreased outreach and scheduling times.
• The total number of completed AWVs surged from 1,148 in the first six months of 2022 to 14,061 in the first six months of 2023.

Conclusions:

• A clear vision, stakeholder engagement, and rapid iteration are vital for successful implementation of healthcare initiatives.
• The project demonstrated that a structured, phased approach can significantly enhance the delivery of annual wellness visits.
• Lessons learned can guide other health systems in improving patient access to preventive care and operational efficiency.