THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE ON PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATIONS FOR PRACTICE REDESIGN

Primary Care Office of the Future

This year’s conference will feature hands-on simulation of new practice designs and technology for primary care transformation. Clinical teams will be able to take a guided tour to experience innovative technologies and redesigned environments that facilitate enhanced team communication, patient engagement, and proactive care.

The Connecticut Institute for Primary Care Innovation (CIPCI) is partnering with STFM and innovative companies to demonstrate technology and workflow enhancements for the Primary Care Office of the Future. Originally created by CIPCI, the exhibit will help learners, clinical teams, and policy makers envision the future of primary care, and serve as a launching point for transformation projects.

Thanks go to CIPCI team leaders, Thomas Agresta, MD, MBI; Jeri Hepworth, PhD; and Rachael Ingersol, MA for their time and commitment in planning and organizing this unique experience.

General Session Speakers

Melissa Gerdes, MD, chief medical officer of Outpatient Services and Accountable Care Organization Strategy (ACOs) for Methodist Health System will address ACOs, specifically how practices need to transform to participate in value-based payment, and what it takes to be successful in the new payment environment. Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, president and chief executive officer of Medical Management Group Association, will share her expertise as CEO of Medical Management Group Association on the role of leadership and leading change in primary care. Tom Bodenheimer, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Excellence in Primary Care at the University of California, San Francisco and an adjunct professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, will speak about resilience for clinical teams in pursuit of the Triple Aim.

Practice Management Boot Camp

Presenters Scott Fields, MD, MHA; Bruin Rugge, MD, MPA; Benjamin Cox, MBA, Oregon Health & Science University; and John Rugge, MD, Hudson Headwaters Health Network will lead an optional workshop for residents, new practicing physicians, and new faculty. Presenters will engage the participants in an active conversation and small-group activities addressing issues such as:

• How to be a good partner in a busy practice

• The role of primary care in accountable care organizations, understanding the importance of visit coding, relative value units, and payment

• What to know prior to signing a first contract; basic financial planning, including employer benefits, loan repayments programs, and planning for the future; and use of data to improve a practice and patients’ health.

Family Medicine for America’s Health Core Topics Track, Invited Presentations

The conference will include a track of sessions specific to the 6 core teams of Family Medicine for America’s Health (FMAHealth) and how they envision the future of practices. The FMAHealth track will have presentations by core team members on practice, payment, research, technology, workforce, and engagement.

Other invited sessions will feature topics of direct primary care, social determinants of health, meaningful use, medical Spanish, and the changing environment of payment reform.

The Conference on Practice Improvement will be held December 3–6, 2015 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dallas, Texas. More information is available at http://www.stfm.org/cpi.