Module 1

This section will enable you to assess your practice's office systems and guide you through the implementation of improvements that will result in more coordinated care for your patients.

Specifically, the tool will help you evaluate the office systems that make it possible for your practice to:

• Meet parents' informational needs and address their concerns about their child's learning, development, and behavior,
• Identify children at risk through the use of structured developmental and psychosocial assessments and screening at appropriate visits,
• Provide a strong and streamlined link to community resources for families who need or want them,
• Promote optimal parent/child relationships.

To help you achieve these goals, this section includes the following:

• Introduction: Assessing Your Practice's Office Systems (Web)
• Improvement Checklist (PDF)
• Tool: Office Systems Inventory (PDF)
• Back to Main Table of Contents.

In the Practioner's Own Words

Once a practice has made the decision to change a particular office system, someone needs to be responsible for making sure that:

• Directions, operations, and policies are developed
• Staff are trained
• The change is reviewed regularly (every 3–6 months), and
• Additional refinements are made as necessary.

 

Some practices have told us that, unless there is regular monitoring, the best intentions tend to slide in the midst of the busy office setting.