Knowledge on the Go Podcast
Advancing Ambulatory Access
Patients benefit when health systems make it easier to access the right care at the right time. Andrea Boohaker, Associate Vice President of Ambulatory Services at UAB Medicine, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss UAB’s work to optimize advanced practice provider templates and improve access. Their conversation explores new care pathways for patients with urgent, lower acuity needs, including UAB’s Rapid Access Clinic.
Guest Speaker:
Andrea Boohaker, DNP, ACNP-BC, RNFA
Associate Vice President of Ambulatory Services
UAB Medicine
Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient
Show Notes:
[00:52] UAB Medicine’s access challenges and the opportunity to optimize advanced practice provider templates.
[03:48] Research from other organizations helped shape the improvement process, along with early engagement from leaders, frontline staff, and access center colleagues.
[06:03] Peer organizations demonstrated how template optimization could reduce third available appointments and help patients receive care within the week.
[06:52] UAB’s Rapid Access Clinic connects patients with lower acuity orthopedic injuries to timely specialty care.
[08:35] Collaboration between orthopedic teams and emergency department colleagues helped expand the Rapid Access Clinic to walk in patients and weekend injury care.
[09:57] Understanding barriers, keeping patients at the center, and learning from setbacks can help teams navigate resistance to change.
[11:36] Each clinic may require a different solution based on its care model, staffing needs, and workflow challenges.
[12:36] Trusting your team, trusting your gut, and trusting your data can help guide improvement work.
[13:51] The new process could benefit patients, advanced practice providers, departments, and the broader organization.
[15:24] UAB plans to scale the work while recognizing that each team may need a different solution.
Links | Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
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