Health Disparities Collaboratives

Process

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Collaboratives run in an annual cycle, launched by a kickoff learning session. During the thirteen months of Phase I, teams participate in four learning sessions and engage in action periods between learning sessions in order to implement their learning. Phase I concludes with a close-out session, called a congress. Ongoing technical support and extensive communications are provided by staff and national faculty. As teams succeed in changing practices and realizing positive patient outcomes with an original population of focus, they move into sustaining and spreading this work with a larger patient population. This is the focus of Phase II.

Prework:
The faculty selects a topic and establishes a planning group to identify major change concepts and help direct improvement efforts. The participants complete pre-work to assist them with setting their aim, allocating resources, and preparing baseline data leading to the first Learning Session 1.

Learning Session 1:
At Learning Session 1, the first major meeting of the Collaborative, teams are introduced to the models, standards of care are reviewed, and teams are given the tools they need to begin implementing the evidence-based rapid-change quality improvement model.

Action Period 1:
During Action Period 1, the teams return to their health centers to adapt and test the ideas for improved system of care. The teams participate on a monthly conference call to share ideas. Day-to-day communication is facilitated by Collaborative listservs.

Learning Session 2:
At Learning Session 2, the teams convene as a group to share their work to date. They are taught more advanced techniques for targeting change and continuing the improvement process.

Action Period 2:
During Action Period 2, the teams further develop the system of care at their health center and begin to make permanent changes to their system.

Learning Session 3:
At Learning Session 3, the teams reconvene to focus on methods to spread their positive changes to the rest of their health center and ensure that these changes are sustained.

Action Period 3:
During Action Period 3, the teams continue with implementation and initiate spread to the rest of their health center.

Close-out/Congress:
At the Congress, sometimes referred to as the Close-out Event, the teams come together to celebrate their success and work on strategies to continue the improvement process.

Phase II:
After the intense learning that goes on during the initial Collaborative phase, the teams work in Phase II. During this time, the teams are continuing to sustain and spread the positive changes the have implemented during Phase I throughout their health center system. They continue to report on their key measures.