Optimizing Comprehensive Clinical Care (OC³)
Optimizing Comprehensive Clinical Care (OC³) is a total system of care that incorporates established principles from FQHC operations, management, and clinical systems and uses a Compliance and Performance Improvement (CPI) program for oversight of all required medical services, business practices, and functions. When OC³ is fully actualized, a health center is exceeding basic requirements in all areas of operations. And, over time, OC³ has become TACHC's recommended system of care for all FQHCs because of the breadth and depth of its structure.
An OC³ culture embraces a strategic vision, that, at its core, is a commitment to the underserved. This commitment is demonstrated by, among other things, building fiscally sound operations; developing relationships with local, community-based partners; and fostering a culture of not only compliance with the law but also doing the right thing for every patient, every time. An OC³ culture is also supported by strong community development and recruitment and retention efforts that serve to allow the center to continue expanding services.
OC³ is a system of care that facilitates a culture of continuous improvement and non-hierarchical communication across the center. The OC³ culture values data for improvement and institutes organization-wide processes to enable all staff to be active participants in performance improvement activities. The leadership is strong, consistent, and innovative in its approach to healthcare delivery and fosters an environment in which change is expected and encouraged. Ultimately, a center that practices according to OC³ recognizes that the center is greater than the sum of each of its individual departments; that in order to be truly optimized, all systems must be integrated.
Integrating services allows that all of the needs of the patient can be met at, or coordinated through, one central location. Coordinated care is a fundamental principle of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model and at the heart of OC³. Like OC³, the PCMH model emphasizes access, health information technology, and partnerships between the patient and clinician in order to improve health. Central to OC³ is the assumption that patients can have an appointment with their own provider when they need or want it. This open access to care leads to increased patient satisfaction and allows health center providers to practice according to best practice standards and guidelines because the system has appropriate capacity. OC³ also leads to increased staff satisfaction and retention because this system redesign affords staff the opportunity to work at their highest level of ability and training because processes are designed to achieve maximum results.
A center that fully implements OC³ meets the intent of the PCMH model and is practicing as such. In today's healthcare environment, this is critical because many entities ranging from Managed Care Organizations to the Department of State Health Services are beginning to show preference to organizations and practices that function as a PCMH because of the quality and comprehensiveness of the services those organizations provide.
TACHC continues to review, update, and provide training and technical assistance on OC³ and how complete adoption of this system can improve the overall functioning of the center and ultimately help the center further its mission of providing quality healthcare to its community. It is important to note that OC³ is a dynamic system and its implementation will vary from center to center based on local needs, resources, and patient population. However, it is evident that as centers continue to implement OC³, FQHCs are living up to TACHC's vision of being the first choice for comprehensive, high quality primary care for all Texans.
