Genesee Valley Medical Foundation / Ideal Medical Practices

Ideal Medical Practices: Initiative to improve quality of patient care in solo and small practices

Executive Summary:  The Genesee Valley Medical Foundation undertook an initiative to develop and disseminate strategies for improving quality of patient care in solo and small practices, particularly through better practice management, physician education and reliable disease management. The project provided hands-on technical assistance through conference calls, monthly meetings, online resources and CME offerings. Funding from The Physicians Foundation supported the project staff in recruiting small practices and theirs patients to complete a baseline health survey, which was used to track patient needs in preventative and chronic disease management, and developing an approach to measurement and quality improvement. Over the four year project, 400 physicians signed up to participate. Due to ongoing interest from solo and small practices from around the U.S. after the completion of the grant, the project team formed Ideal Medical Practices as a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization to support those seeking to deliver ideal care. The organization has created a website, online forum and blog dedicated to providing resources to solo and small practices. In 2010, Ideal Medical Practices received a grant of $45,000 from The Physicians Foundation to improve the web presence of the project.

Website: http://www.howsyourhealth.org/