By implementing clinical care collaboratives to engage a broad group of patient care staff from front-line personnel to primary and specialty care physicians, HHC is tapping the best minds to share best practices and find solutions to common challenges. Members of collaboratives have explored the many operational and clinical aspects of a primary care visit: What causes backups? Why do patients miss their appointments? What services can be brought together under one roof? How can we guarantee an appointment when the patient wants it?

Together, dozens of HHC staff have come up with successful, patient-centered redesign practices that are being implemented across HHC's broad network of outpatient clinics and are showing a dramatic improvement in patient compliance.

Waiting time at most HHC primary care clinics has been reduced to less than 60 minutes. The Corporation is aiming to ensure patients can schedule doctor visits within three days of their requested appointment date. And best of all, patients will almost always see the same primary care physician.

Reduced wait time and improved scheduling means that more appointments are kept. Forming a relationship with a “family doctor” builds a stronger doctor-patient partnership, fosters earlier detection of health issues, and helps involve parents and patients in active management of chronic diseases.

The redesigned HHC clinic experience, the result of shared learning collaboratives among front-line clinic staff, will continue to play a significant role in improving the health of HHC's diverse communities.