Future plan

COPC administration is planning to implement OC in all COPC health centers. 2 as needed RNs have been deployed to do OC at CMHC & SAFHC. 4 as needed RNs will start in late 8/2013. 6 more RNs will be hired. The Goal is by 12/31/2013 the wait list will be "ZERO".

New client wait list

Under 2011 Timely Access Regulation new patient appointment unit (NPAU) started monitoring client wait list in late 2012. Data on all health centers is shared in the whole department. Few health centers are interested in implementing OC. Three health centers: CMHC, SAFHC and OPHC implemented OC in 3/2013. The new clients wait list decrease drastically. As of 7/29/2013 wait list for the health centers with OC as compared to the COPC.

OC in Chinatown Public Health Center (CPHC)

In 2007 CPHC was one of the two sites to pilot Healthy San Francisco (HSF). OC was started in a group format to see the new clients. Since then CPHC has managed to have ZERO on the wait list. When there is an increase in new clients, CPHC just open up more OC appointments.

Changes in primary care

Timely access regulation, physician shortage & increase new clients: The demand of healthcare services in primary care has been expanding. 32 million people will be eligible for health care by 2019. Starting 2014 the health exchange program will be effective that will drastically increase the demand in primary care services. However, primary care physicians shortage is not getting better. 52,000 primary care providers are needed by 2025. OC will be a feasible and cost effective solution to have RN to see the new clients. A 1998 study showed that OC decreased new client no show rate from 45% to 18%.

Welcome

My name is Kit Chan. I am proud that my health center has been able to have 0 new client on the wait list. In this blog I would like to share with you how my health center use OC to meet the demand of new clients while dealing with primary care provider shortage.