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San Francisco Health Network outlines progress on integration, data and access goals
Summary
SF Health Network leaders reported creation of a business intelligence unit, a new ambulatory care organization and a managed care office; presenters highlighted improved access metrics, marketing/branding work and remaining risks including the 2015 Medi'Cal waiver and patient retention challenges.
San Francisco Health Network Director Roland Pickens and colleagues delivered a quarterly update describing organizational changes and early results as the network implements health reform priorities.
Pickens said the network has established three notable capabilities: a Business Intelligence Unit to centralize data and dashboards; a formal ambulatory care organization with a primary care director to strengthen the medical home role; and a new managed care office to coordinate contracting and relationships with health plans. "We are now up on our two hands and knees and beginning to crawl a little bit," Pickens told commissioners, summarizing the network'building phase.
Presenters highlighted a set of WayForward metrics used to track progress. Kim Nguyen described improvements including a 5.1% increase in appropriate patient placement and a 26.3% positive outcome change for a network metric; Albert Yu reviewed primary care goals (same'day access, eliminating wait lists, prompt telephone access, and empanelment) and noted major operational work underway (centralized call center, scheduling standardization and new patient appointment units).
Speakers also described integration work across San Francisco General, Laguna Honda and community clinics: combined switchboard operations, pharmacy integration and social services coordination to improve transitions of care. Managed care director Stella Chow reported normalized membership after earlier system issues and an enrollment of about 83,700 members for hospital services, with approximately 76% receiving primary care through the network.
Presenters acknowledged remaining risks and unknowns, including the outcome of a 2015 Medi'Cal waiver, potential changes from AB 85 and local market dynamics affecting patient retention. Commissioners asked for clearer market definitions (who the network is becoming the "preferred provider" for), women's services integration and metrics to evaluate marketing efforts; staff said they will follow up with additional detail and asked for budgetary support to resource marketing and outreach work.
The update was informational; commissioners praised progress and requested follow'up briefings on market targeting, top 100 high'cost patients and transition metrics.
