Milestone 6: Practice sets clear expectations for each team member’s functions and responsibilities to optimize efficiency, outcomes, and accountability.

Goal: The practice has documented each team member’s role and accountability lanes and each team member works to the maximum of his skill set and credentials in order to optimize efficiency and outcomes.

Strategies

  • Inventory the work to be done prior to a patient visit, during the visit, and after the visit and determine who in the organization can do each part of the work by matching their training and skills sets
  • Use process maps or swim lane diagrams to clarify responsibilities once roles are assigned
  • Identify staff interest and talents and align these with available opportunities
  • Add fields to registry or EHR to capture care team member roles
  • Share team roles with patients and families on paper and electronic systems
  • Empower medical assistants with coaching skills so that they can expand their role in supporting self-management

Resources