The AF4Q Minnesota Consumer Engagement Workgroup was charged in 2006 to begin analyzing best practices for engaging consumers to access and utilize provider performance data, such as the materials produced by MN Community Measurement, as a way to further engage with their health care provider and more fully participate in their care. The report chronicles the efforts and learnings of the Minnesota Consumer Engagement Workgroup and offers an action agenda for other communities who wish to replicate...
To date, the Maine AF4Q alliance has focused its consumer engagement efforts on informing people that quality measures are publicly available and can be used to select a health care provider and educating and encouraging consumers to use information available through the consumer-friendly and popular public reporting website, www.GetBetterMaine.org. Now, the Maine AF4Q alliance is conducting a statewide, sustained consumer campaign that engages Maine people to take specific actions needed to improve their own...
In a pilot designed to increase the number of people with diabetes who receive in-depth training on diabetes self-management education, Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC) trained nearly 200 employees at five employer worksites and two union offices. Results to date, based on clinical and self-reported data, have been positive with some improvements noted in patients’ glycemic index, blood pressure, lipid, and weight control. Preliminary productivity data shows gains of 28% at 3 months and 40% at 6 months.
Historically, comparative health information websites have been difficult to navigate and dense with information that is meaningful to health care professionals, but overwhelming for the average person, i.e., patients, families and consumers. Through Aligning Forces for Quality, a team in Wisconsin recognized they had to rethink their online strategy and presence. The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) launched a new consumer-driven website, WisconsinHealthReports.org, garnering front page media coverage by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. From January 1st to June 30th a...
Living Healthy, the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) developed by Stanford University was launched in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health throughout the eight (8) counties of Western New York (WNY). Forty-three (43) lay-leaders were trained and more than 200 patients have completed the program. Five Consumer Advisory Teams (CATs) have been launched covering six of the eight counties (40 consumers) with two (2) more CATs in formation to cover the last two counties (total eight counties to be covered with more than 50 consumers...
Keeping diabetes under control requires a lot of effort outside the doctor’s office. The Cleveland AF4Q Alliance reached out to consumers with diabetes education events held at a grocery store in a neighborhood with a large population of Puerto Rican Hispanics, who are at higher risk for diabetes. The outreach events garnered substantial local media attention, and community partners were quick to participate. The event promoted a significant increase in visits to the Alliance’s public reporting site, which also includes Spanish and English versions of healthy recipes and tips...
Oregon’s Patients and Families as Leaders program works with five health care organizations to include patients in all levels of health care decision-making. The program now includes over 70 patient and family advisors. Providence Medical Group, one of the participating health care organizations, has enrolled a number of patient and family advisors, including Margie Turner.
Margie has had a range of health care experiences - both good and bad. So when she was asked to join Providence Medical Group’s Patient & Family Advisory Council to help improve care for others,...
The Kansas City, Mo Alliance expanded their consumer engagement efforts by hosting events designed to bring both consumers and providers to the table. They connected with local churches; bringing 3000 consumers to Diabetes education events. Additionally, more than 1200 individual physicians receive reports from the alliance, and more than 60% find reports generated by AF4Q useful to their practice.
Community Health Alliance of Humboldt County, is a collaboration of dynamic community leaders, consumers, physicians, nurses, employers and insurers who have come together to improve health care quality in their community. Get a sneak peak of the transforming work of the Humboldt County Aligning Forces for Quality Alliance by watching the video below.
In January 2011, the Community Health Alliance and the Independent Practice Association launched a Primary Care Renewal program to support private practices in the process of becoming Patient-Centered Medical Homes, or PCMH. PCR meetings take place monthly and include representatives from 18 different physician practices. Prior to the meeting, Alliance staff meets with “patient partners” to help them prepare for the formal PCR meetings. During one such meeting, Glen Twombly, a patient partner, made the observation: “After 60 years, this is the first time someone has asked...