McConnell medics begin Family Health Initiative in August

Published April 27, 2011
By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Beginning Aug. 1, 2011, the 22nd Medical Group here will implement the Family Health Initiative, with the main focus to increase patient continuity with their assigned provider and overall healthcare.

This implementation will include lowering the number of patients assigned to an Air Force medical provider.

The FHI program was developed out of concern by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, the Air Force surgeon general, who wants to reduce the number of patients assigned to each Air Force provider. He felt that with the current health system, patients were often seeing different doctors every time they have an appointment, which can be frustrating to the patient and the doctor.

The program focuses on the personal relationships between patient and the provider's team.

Maj. Paul Haiar, 22nd Medical Operations Squadron primary care physician assistant, said he is looking forward to seeing the process in action.

"Our goal is to create an enjoyable and trusting environment that promotes and delivers high quality care to each of our beneficiaries," Major Haiar said. "To achieve better health-care outcomes for our patients, the FHI has mirrored the American Academy of Family Physicians 'Patient Centered Medical Home' concept, and is built on a team-approach for effective care delivery."

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., have already implemented FHI in their primary care clinics. The results at these two test sites showed provider continuity rates in the 80 to 90 percent range compared to the 50 percent range prior to FHI, said Major Haiar.

"The two bases have dramatically improved their access to care and patient satisfaction," said Major Haiar. "We believe our FHI implementation will reflect high quality care and improved customer satisfaction."

The 22nd MDG primary care clinic will have 10,000 patients enrolled with eight assigned primary care managers by Aug. 1, 2011.

The FHI will assign one provider for every 1,250 patients and there will be two providers assigned to each team to help strengthen the doctor and patient relationship. The team concept will improve patients' access to healthcare, said Lt. Col. Alison Helmkamp, 22nd Medical Group Chief of Staff.

At McConnell, each Family Health Team will consist of a Family Practice Physician, a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner, one nurse and five medical technicians. The goal of this partnership between our patients and their health care team is to increase prevention efforts and achieve better health outcomes, said Major Haiar.

This will allow patients to have a provider that not only knows them, but also knows their medical history.

Despite all these changes, the 22nd MDG will maintain the same goals that allowed them to win seven Air Force-level awards for 2010.

"We will continue to update our patients about our FHI realignment activities, to continue meeting our goal of providing them with the best health care delivery system in the Air Force," said Major Haiar.