Reducing barriers: PHP/IOP process change streamlines patient admission to eating disorder care
Knowing the road to recovery is challenging as is, Rogers team members are finding ways to remove obstacles.
What began as a pilot program early last year has expanded to most Rogers PHP/IOP clinics with eating disorder programs, eliminating the requirement for an outside medical clearance screening before admission.
“Previously, we would have to call prospective patients who were recommended for treatment and let them know they would have to arrange a medical clearance appointment on their own, either with their primary care physician or by going to the emergency room,” says Sylvia Winzentsen, director of Admissions, adding that it could take a week or more. “It could be quite a lengthy process working to secure the proper records, not to mention the logistical and financial barriers faced by patients. We have been able to eliminate all of that.”
Now, Sylvia says, prospective PHP/IOP patients can schedule medical clearance appointments at Rogers with Dr. Patrick O’Malley and his team, allowing them to get started right away. Sylvia says in the eating disorder PHP/IOP programs where this process is underway – which is all clinic locations except Oconomowoc – they have been able to drastically improve their conversion rates from 50% to nearly 80%.
“That is really exciting,” Sylvia says. “We’re converting more cases, admitting more patients, making sure they are getting the care they need quickly and efficiently.”
So far, about 70 patients throughout the System have been admitted through this new process, with no requirements for escalation to higher levels of care. Plans are underway to introduce the streamlined process to Oconomowoc’s PHP/IOP eating disorder program, as well, which can admit up to 24 patients.
“At the front door, we’re always looking at barriers to admissions and how to eliminate them, because we want people to get access to care as fast as they can, especially knowing that that’s a hard decision to make,” Sylvia says. “Once you’re willing and you’re ready, we want to have no barriers and get you in as long as we have a spot for you.”
Such improvements can make the road to recovery a smoother one.
“This change makes me happy and proud, showing that just because we’ve done something a certain way for a very long time doesn’t mean we can’t pivot to serve the needs of our patients,” says Monica Robertson, vice president of Outpatient Operations. “I want to give a big shout out to all the team members who trusted the process, working to make this a reality.”
Monica and Sylvia thank everyone involved for their hard work on the successful process change, including Fawn Purky, Dr. O’Malley, Dr. Sean LeNoue, Stephanie Camacho, Amanda Puhl, Jill Beaty, Debbie Case, Anna Meremable, and onsite operations and nursing teams.
