Performance Improvement activities enhance the capacity and improve the quality of the administrative and clinical infrastructure of the safety net health centers.  Technical assistance in this area is intended to upgrade clinical and administrative practice to contribute to the efficiency and capacity of the health center, as well as to staff morale.  It will also help the health centers meet Medical Homes DC Performance Standards and the qualifications for applying to the Federally Qualified Health Centers program.

The IPCE is developing roles – such as “process leaders/change agents” – to serve as experts and mentors to other staff within DC centers.  DCPCA uses a variety of technical assistance formats – including workshop sessions and individual on-site coaching from MHDC staff.  Internal change agents can be instrumental in helping sites to comply with standards and program expectations for FQHC look-alike status or for HRSA/Section 330 grant requirements under the Public Health Services Act.

Performance improvement includes these activities:

• Enhancing the business model, to improve management and to better collect available reimbursements;
• Improving patient flow, to maximize quality provision of services and job satisfaction for clinical personnel;
• Planning strategies to effectively handle surge capacity, emergency preparedness, and other periods of increased demand;
• Serving as a liaison and coordinator between the safety net health centers and DOH  during implementation of programs to address specific service delivery areas, such as immunizations and services to address sexually-transmitted diseases; and
• Spotting and addressing challenges and barriers that may impede service delivery and frustrate clinical staff.