Fiscal Year 2025 Expanded Hours. - Project Abstract Title: Expansion of Operational Hours to Enhance Healthcare Access Overview: HealthFirst and SSTAR are expanding their operational hours to address significant barriers to healthcare access for underserved populations, including low-income, underinsured, and uninsured residents. This project aims to improve access to essential healthcare services, such as medical, urgent care, dental, behavioral health, and pediatric care, by extending service hours based on community needs and preferences. Background: The need for expanded hours was identified through comprehensive community health needs assessments, patient surveys, and utilization data. Most patients expressed a preference for early morning and late evening appointments, with a significant demand for services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Current operational hours have been insufficient to meet these needs, leading to long wait times, high no-show rates, and a backlog of patients awaiting care, particularly at SSTAR. Implementation Plan: - HealthFirst: Increase operational hours by five hours per week. - SSTAR: Increase operational hours by twelve hours per week. - Staffing: Add 0.85 FTE for clinical staff and 1.60 FTE for non-clinical staff at HealthFirst, and 1.6 FTE for clinical support and extend hours for key non-clinical positions at SSTAR. Implement an incentive program with "Bonus" pay adjustments to ensure staffing flexibility and satisfaction. - Facilities: Complete necessary alterations and renovations, including new cubicles, waiting room flooring, and additional exam rooms, within 12 months to accommodate increased patient volume. Evaluation and Monitoring: - Quality Assurance: The Quality Improvement (QI) and Quality Assurance (QA) committees will review data on key indicators such as patient volume, no-show rates, and ED use for non-urgent care. These reviews will occur bi-monthly, with monthly data reviews and adjustments as needed. - Patient Feedback: Continuous monitoring through patient satisfaction surveys focusing on access and hours of operation will ensure the new hours meet patient needs. Indicators will be reviewed regularly to inform management and implement necessary adjustments. - Utilization and Outcomes: Monitor waitlist reductions, improved immunization rates among pediatric patients, and decreased non-urgent ED visits to measure the impact of expanded hours. Anticipated Outcomes: The expansion is projected to serve an additional 624 patients annually, significantly reducing wait times and no-show rates, and improving overall patient satisfaction. Enhanced access to preventive and routine care is expected to decrease non-urgent ED visits, leading to better health outcomes for the community. Conclusion: By extending operational hours and enhancing service availability, HealthFirst and SSTAR aim to improve healthcare access for underserved populations. This initiative, supported by strategic staffing increases, facility upgrades, and continuous quality monitoring, seeks to create a sustainable model for comprehensive, patient-centered care that addresses the identified needs of the community.
