This statewide training program, housed in the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc., provides education to pediatric practices in the comfort of their own offices. Trainings support practice level quality improvement to enhance delivery of care within the medical home model.

Implementation Insights:

  • Train and educate the entire practice team, including clinical, administrative, and finance staff.
  • Identify community and state initiatives to support practice change.
  • Offer incentives for practice participation, such as Maintenance of Certification points, technical assistance, and resources.

    Updated: December 2015

    

 Background Information
  • Type of Practice: Health Policy Institute
  • Location: Farmington, Connecticut
  • Population Served: Approximately 100 practices per year receive training from the Educating Practices in the Community (EPIC) program.

 Pediatric Medical Home Implementation Strategies
  • Implement trainings in pediatric practices through the evidence-based academic detailing approach. This involves the following:
      • Conduct a personal visit to health care professionals in their work settings (clinic/office).
      • Identify baseline knowledge and potential barriers to behavior change among health care professionals.
      • Define clear educational and behavioral objectives.
      • Establish credibility through respected organizational identity.
      • Stimulate active participation among practice staff.
      • Use concise graphic educational materials.
      • Create, highlight, and repeat essential messages.
      • Provide positive reinforcement of improved practices in follow-up visits.
      • Include the entire office team in the trainings, including clinical and non-clinical staff.
  • Offer incentives for participation, including the following:
      • Maintenance of Certification points
      • Continuing Medical Education credits
      • Access to an electronic database system for quality improvement work
      • Assistance with meeting national medical home recognition standards
  • Identify state and community initiatives that can offer support to pediatric practices in implementing practice level quality improvements. Invite these organizations to attend trainings. Examples of such initiatives include the following:
      • Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (Title V) program
      • Medicaid
      • Help Me Grow
      • United Way
      • State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program

 Challenges
  • Implementing trainings throughout the state required human and financial resources. To overcome this challenge, the Educating Practices in the Community (EPIC) program implemented the following strategies:
    • Created an electronic data system to maintain practice visit information and practice feedback information.
    • Hired a full time coordinator to schedule trainings.
    • Fostered successful partnership with multiple state organizations, including Title V, Medicaid and Help Me Grow to provide support to practices, develop resources, and assist with locating funding opportunities.
  • As a result of these strategies, EPIC has been successful in increasing implementation of developmental screening, maternal depression screening, and fluoride varnish application.

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