ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on logistical processes such as scheduling, precertification, and physician access. To improve access, leadership needs to remove every barrier between the patients and the services being provided by the system. Predictive analytics for clinic access is a new area of opportunity that provides metrics which show the impact of mid-levels on primary and specialty care provider practices. Primary care providers are the gatekeepers that monitor and control access to healthcare services. Healthcare organizations are constantly changing staff, departments, processes, and providers. These changes put patient access to services at constant risk. Developing a strong governance structure to improve access is critical for sustainability and continuous quality improvement. Key components of the access governance structure include the sponsor, the working group, and team leads. Access to healthcare is one of the most fundamental aspects of keeping a community healthy and maximizing the utilization of organizational assets.
