An Efficient Family Care Clinic Peter Samaan, M.D.

The Family Care Clinic’s Mission To provide the highest quality of care for patients in the most efficient manner and to provide an adequate learning experience for the family medicine residents.

Scenario A 45-year-old African-American female presents to the Family Care Clinic without an appointment. She had been in the Emergency Department the previous week and was reported to have experienced a loss of consciousness to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Consequently, her driver’s license was suspended. She requests medical clearance to regain her license. During the encounter, she became belligerent. The staff required assistance from the Moreno Valley Police Department in response to her behavior.

Problems Safety of staff and patients Quality of care compromised Patient privacy-HIPPA Drain on resources

What can we do?

Solutions Lock the door to the Family Care Clinic Establish phone number for non-medications requests All medication requests to pharmacy Full-time person for requests Evening/weekend clinic E-mail/Internet Satellite county clinics

Access to Family Care Center Via a password that would be know only to physicians and ancillary staff Security guard if necessary Only patients would allowed to come into Family Care Center, with the exception of minors and their families No pharmaceutical reps Enforcement of late policy

Non-Medication Requests Phone number answered by a full-time staff member who would be responsible for forwarding requests to physicians Normal business hours Included DMV paperwork, disability forms, nursing home paperwork, etc.

Evening/Weekend Clinic Third-year residents Moonlighting opportunity Attending supervision

E-mail/Internet Use of a clinic website which can process medication requests efficiently Internet available for free in public libraries Already in use across the country Patients may e-mail providers if they sign a waiver

Satellite Clinics Many patients live close to other county clinics Talk to Emergency Department about referring these patients to other county clinics Establish continuity patients for residents in the clinics

Results Improved efficiency Increased quality of care Increased patient satisfaction Less strain on providers Better learning experience for residents