Practice Enhancement Program Receives Grant to Expand Pilot

The AAFP Foundation has received a $208,953 grant from the Physicians' Foundation for Health Systems Excellence to support AAFP's Practice Enhancement Program in 2006. The grant will be used to "expand the program to three additional constituent chapters and to initiate faculty development so the program can be delivered to more constituent chapters in 2007," according to a special bulletin from Bruce Bagley, M.D., AAFP medical director for quality improvement, to AAFP chapter leaders.

The Practice Enhancement Program, which was piloted in Washington and New Jersey this year, works with small and medium-sized family medicine practices to implement changes outlined in the Future of Family Medicine report.

The two pilot programs under way include 21 family medicine teams. Each team includes a physician, a clinical staff person and a nonclinical staff person from the same practice. The teams completed a set of precourse homework, including an office assessment to help them determine where to direct improvement efforts; participated in a two-day CME course emphasizing quality improvement, office redesign and the chronic care model; and now are implementing a practice-based quality improvement project aimed at applying the knowledge acquired to clinical practice and improving patient care.

Teams from the pilot programs currently are working on projects that address a variety of topics, including diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain management, depression, asthma and preventive care. Each team works with a mentor during the face-to-face CME course. That mentor then becomes the team's coach and provides external support for the change effort.

"We are excited about the team approach used in this program," said Bagley. "Office staff must be involved in the change effort right from the start because they are the ones who will be responsible for the day-to-day work of change."

The grant from the Physicians' Foundation for Health Systems Excellence will allow AAFP to expand the program to three more constituent chapters. Bagley said that they are hoping to get teams from up to 12 FP practices in the chapters selected. The program also will include up to 12 faculty, who will take the course as part of a training program so they can teach it in the future.

"This grant will allow further development of the program, including faculty training for a more widespread roll-out in the next 18 months," said Bagley.

Chapters interested in applying for the Practice Enhancement Program can fill out an online application. Selection criteria include chapters' abilities to

The deadline to apply for the three new programs is December 16. Chapters who are selected will be notified by January 13, 2006.