Promoting interprofessional collaboration through development of an organizational strategy to improve intra-organizational referrals at Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center

Abstract

This graduate project details the development of a foundation for organizational strategy aimed at improving the intra-organizational referrals and interprofessional collaboration at Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center in Cashton, WI evolving out of the author's preceptorship-related strategic planning responsibilities. Guided by the identification and prioritization of the need which was identified in alignment with the organization's health care quality improvement and Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) goals, a needs and capacity assessment was completed to identify already-established areas of strength and weakness related to the goal of improving intra-organizational referrals. Based on qualitative focus groups and key informant interviews, pre-pilot and pilot protocols were developed to test specific language and situations and their potential for prompting intra-organizational referral opportunities. Development of a web-based toolkit for defining and improving intra-organizational referrals at SBCHC was guided by the findings from the pilot protocol. It was the intent of the author and of the organization that the toolkit would be available for use by other health centers with the strategic goals of improving health care quality, attaining, and maintaining PCMH status by improving intra-organizational referrals.