An integrated practice unit tool for the Military Health System

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Quality Improvement
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Coordinated care centers require robust performance metrics.
• Integrated Practice Units (IPUs) offer a model for specialized, multidisciplinary patient care.
• The Military Health System (MHS) seeks to optimize care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a tool for measuring coordinated care center performance against IPU criteria.
• To assess an established care center within the MHS using the developed tool.

Main Methods:

• Four patient care coordination models were analyzed against 11 IPU criteria.
• Subject matter experts refined criteria for MHS specialty care needs.
• The tool was tested at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) using a yes/partial/no/N/A/incomplete response system.

Main Results:

• The final tool comprised 7 IPU criteria and 18 measures.
• NICoE demonstrated significant improvement from 2020 to 2023 in meeting IPU measures.
• Minor refinements were identified for tool clarity and patient-provider evaluation discrepancies.

Conclusions:

• The IPU assessment tool effectively evaluates coordinated care facilities within the MHS.
• Iterative refinement will enhance the tool's utility for care transformation discussions.
• The tool provides a framework for measuring performance in centers reorganizing as IPUs.