Red Lake IHS Hospital

 Joint Indian Health Service

We are also working on clarifying how our Improving Patient Care (IPC) initiative will contribute to helping us improve the quality of and access to care in IHS. I have been working with IPC leadership to better define the IPC initiative by clarifying the purpose, simplifying the language, examining the impact of this initiative so far and developing a plan to develop internal IHS capacity to lead and conduct this initiative as we invite more sites to participate over the next three years. We are also working on developing a better evaluation framework for this initiative.

Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., M.P.H. Director

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

The term "Improving Patient Care" represents a set of activities that the Red Lake Service Unit (RLSU) has adopted as a new way of providing patient care. We began this journey in late 2008 and started our first Care Team in 2009. These activities have helped us find ways of enhancing the healthcare we provide for the patients in our community to be a more positive and rewarding experience.

As part of this initiative, the RLSU staff adopted the following:

Organizational Aim

 The aim of the Red Lake Health Care System and Hospital is to optimize the Medical Home of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation through:

♦ Convenient Access

♦ Community Partnerships

♦ Empowering Self-Management for patients through Education

♦ Prevention and/or delay of Chronic Disease

♦ Utilizing the highest Standards of Care

♦ Integration of Behavioral Health into Primary Care

The following activities are taking place now:

1)      Primary Care Providers- RLSU is staffed with clinic doctors and each doctor is ready to lead a Care Team to meet your medical needs.

2)      Cycle times- represents a way that we can evaluate the steps you encounter as a patient so that we can explore ways of improving this process for greater efficiency.

3)      Patient surveys- this allows you to provide feedback and suggestions in regards to how you view the care you receive with RLSU.

4)      PDSA’s- (Stands for Plan, Do, Act, Study) these are small tests of change that will help us explore new ways of doing business; for example "What can we do to make you healthcare experience more efficient given your busy schedules?"

5)      Advanced Access appointments system- this will allow you to call the day you need an appointment for whatever reason and be able to get in on that same-day with your provider or same day appointment Clinic. Care Managers and Nurses are available to speak with you if you are not able to access an appointment.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

YOU will have a doctor who is your primary care doctor. This doctor will be your choice. Having a primary care doctor will help you have consistency with how your health care is managed.

YOU will be at the center of YOUR healthcare. With your doctor comes the benefit of having a "Care Team", this will be a team of professionals ready to assist you with any health concern or issue that may occur. This team will help you HELP YOURSELF take control of your health!

The clinical leadership of IHS recognizes that a fundamental change from a provider-oriented to a patient/family/community-oriented system of care is needed.

For further information you can contact the Red Lake Hospital  IPC Coordinator at 218-679-3912 ext. 269