The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70826

Brian M. Green, MS, PhD Candidat and Conswelia McCourt, MPH. Circle of Care, 260 S. Broad Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215 9852627, brian@familyplanning.org

Setting: The Circle of Care is network of providers based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which includes hospital-based ambulatory care clinics, community health centers, community based service providers, and a consumer advocacy/education group. Methods: Using a framework of Continuous Quality Improvement, the Circle of Care engaged a network of primary care and social services providers as well as consumers in a process to develop principles and standards of family-centered care specific to the needs of HIV affected families. A multistage process for identifying measurable indicators from these standards was utilized and will be presented. This presentation will describe the process used: consumer focus groups, provider focus groups and group sessions using nominal group technique, and consensus panels to develop and fine tune family-centered standards and indicators for HIV primary care and case management. Outcomes and Lessons Learned: Worksheets and tools used to guide the process will be shared. Four primary care and four case management standards were developed by workgroup consensus panels. Multiple indicators were developed for each standard. Involvement of clinicians in the process was less challenging than involvement of case managers. Various adjustments to original plan were required, and these lessons learned will be shared as well.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify process for involving providers and consumers in developing standards.
• Provide tools for identifying standards and indicators for family centered care
• Utilize a Continuous Quality Improvement Framework for monitoring care for HIV affected families
• Integrate primary care, supportive services and prevention into model through the use of standards and indicators
• Identify multiple ways of structuring consumer involvement in CQI process

Keywords: Quality Improvement, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Circle of Care
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employer