Around the country, a handful of bold and innovative Aligning Forces for Quality communities are making great strides in engaging patients and consumer advocates as advisers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives in ambulatory care. By embedding the patient’s voice and perspective across the continuum of quality improvement, Aligning Forces for Quality communities are transforming the future of ambulatory care.
The following consumer engagement programs demonstrate outcomes that include reduced length of stay, fewer fatal safety errors, better identification of “near misses,” and improved population health through achieving higher rates of preventive care. In Humboldt County, CA, the Primary Care Renewal Program is supporting practices making the transition to patient-centered medical homes, providing a valuable patient perspective. In Oregon, the Patients and Families as Leaders Program works with medical groups and a health plan to help them collaborate with patient and family advisors to improve quality. And in Minnesota, the Palliative Care Shared Decision-Making Committee encourages open conversations between patients and physicians on the important topic of palliative care. Learn more here.
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