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Assemble a Project Team
Time to Complete: 2 weeks
Difficulty: Easy; requires buy-in from providers and staff
Outcome: Commitment to implementing open-access scheduling
Steps
Get everyone involved
- Get buy-in from providers and staff.
- Determine which staff need to be in the implementation team. Be sure to include staff currently involved in the scheduling process.
Learn more
- The AAFP video "Improve the Patient Experience" includes an introduction to same-day appointment scheduling.
- Read FPM's article about same-day scheduling and open access "Answers to Your Questions about Same-Day Scheduling."
- Learn how committing to same-day scheduling/open access differs from assigning a few appointment slots for same-day scheduling. Read FPM's article "Answers to Your Questions about Same-Day Scheduling" for more information.
Schedule project meetings
In your first meeting:
- Show the AAFP video "Improve the Patient Experience" to educate team members about same-day appointment scheduling.
- Set clear goals.
- Determine staff roles and responsibilities.
- Set a launch date.
Develop a timeline
- for project completion
- for project evaluation
Prepare for challenges
Develop a plan to deal with implementation issues, including resistance from providers, staff and patients. Read FPM's article "Implementing Change: From Idea to Reality" for more information.
What You Will Need
- A project team and leader. The knowledge and skills of individuals' on a team can help your project succeed.
- Staff buy-in and commitment. You will need the collaboration of all members of your staff to implement open-access scheduling.
- Additional time to work on project
- A computer with Internet access to watch the video
Tool
Read FPM's article "A Team Approach to Quality Improvement" for useful ideas on how to assemble a team that will help your project succeed.
Where to Go for Help
Watch the AAFP video "Improve the Patient Experience" for an overview of same-day appointment scheduling.
Read FPM's articles "Answers to Your Questions about Same-Day Scheduling" and "Same-Day Appointments: Exploding the Access Paradigm" to learn more about open-access scheduling and the process to implement it.
Read FPM's articles "Answers to Your Questions about Same-Day Scheduling" and "Same-Day Appointments: Exploding the Access Paradigm" to learn more about open-access scheduling and the process to implement it.
Join a free collaborative online network committed to practice transformation. Learn more about Delta-Exchange.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
Offer Same-day Appointments
