Strategy. Practice Coaches/Facilitators
Approach. Develop a practice facilitation program to connect practice coaches with primary care clinics
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Overview. Practice facilitation efforts include comprehensive approaches to help ensure care timeliness, improve continuity of care, improve preventive and chronic care, and increase practice efficiency and patient-centeredness (CWF-Grumbach 2012). Efforts are led by practice coaches or facilitators who work with clinic staff to redesign clinical practices and improve the quality of care delivered.
Evidence. Scientifically Rigorous Evidence.
Strategies with this rating are most likely to be effective...
Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.
Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:
- Coach activity logs and reporting data
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Primary care clinic surveys and feedback
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Program evaluation reports
Outcome Components.
This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes
(Read more about these categories):
- Patient Experience of Care. This study improves individuals' perceptions, feelings, and satisfaction with the healthcare services they receive.
- Provider Experience of Care. This strategy improves healthcare professionals' perceptions, feelings, and satisfaction with the work environment and systems they use.
- Access to/Receipt of Care. This strategy increases the ability for individuals to obtain healthcare services when needed, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.
Detailed Outcomes.
For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy,
access the peer-reviewed evidence
and read the Intervention Results for each study.
Intervention Type.
Consultation (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the
Public Health Intervention Wheel).
Intervention Level.
Community-Focused
Examples from the Field.
Access descriptions of ESMs
that use this strategy or aligned components.
Sample ESMs.
Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework
(see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).
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Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)
- Number of practice coaches recruited and trained to provide facilitation services to primary care clinics. (Measures the capacity building efforts to establish a skilled practice coaching workforce)
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Number of practice facilitation sessions conducted with primary care clinics, focusing on redesigning workflows, implementing evidence-based guidelines, and enhancing patient-centeredness. (Measures the intensity and breadth of practice facilitation activities)
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Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)
- Percent of practice coaches who complete a comprehensive training program on evidence-based strategies for practice facilitation, quality improvement, and patient-centered care delivery. (Measures the quality and effectiveness of practice coach workforce development)
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Percent of primary care clinics that establish formal agreements and data-sharing protocols with practice coaches to support ongoing collaboration and evaluation. (Measures the level of partnership and commitment between clinics and practice facilitation programs)
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Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)
- Number of learning collaboratives and peer-to-peer networking events organized for primary care clinics participating in practice facilitation, to share best practices and lessons learned. (Measures efforts to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement among clinics)
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Number of practice coaches trained to use data-driven approaches and quality improvement methodologies to guide practice facilitation activities. (Measures the integration of evidence-based strategies and data-informed decision making into practice facilitation)
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Number of preventable health conditions and complications averted through early detection and intervention in primary care clinics participating in practice facilitation. (Measures the long-term impact of practice facilitation on improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs)
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Number of practice coaches who advance to leadership roles within healthcare organizations or quality improvement initiatives as a result of their experience and skills gained through practice facilitation. (Measures the intervention's contribution to developing a pipeline of quality improvement leaders)
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Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)
- Percent of practice facilitation programs that prioritize outreach and engagement efforts to primary care clinics serving communities with the greatest challenges. (Measures the tailoring of practice facilitation interventions)
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Percent of practice facilitation curricula and training materials that incorporate principles of patient engagement. (Measures the integration of engagement approaches into practice facilitation interventions)
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Percent reduction in preventable hospitalizations and emergency department visits among patients served by primary care clinics participating in practice facilitation, compared to clinics not receiving facilitation support. (Measures the population-level impact of practice facilitation on reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and costs)
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Percent of primary care clinics participating in practice facilitation that demonstrate sustained improvements in health indicators (e.g., reduced differences in screening rates, improved access to care) over time. (Measures the long-term effectiveness of practice facilitation in advancing health outcomes and reducing unjust differences in outcomes)
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Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:
- Move from measuring quantity to quality.
- Move from measuring effort to effect.
- Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
- The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.
Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.
