The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors, at its meeting on January 24, spent a portion of the meeting working with its strategic planning facilitator, Mel Marsh of Acorn Consulting, on the continuing strategic planning process. The OAFP is developing its plan for 2016-20.
The board reviewed membership survey results, personal interview summaries, and a comprehensive environmental scan document which are informing its process. Thanks to all who completed a survey or participated in an interview.
Ms. Marsh summarized what she learned from the process to date as:
- The OAFP is a strong organization that is respected and appreciated by its members and respected outside the state of Ohio.
- Health care is in the midst of tremendous change.
- There is strong attention on the future of primary care in Ohio and there are many opportunities for the future.
- Ohio has poor population health.
- Family physicians are experiencing change fatigue and some have lost their joy in practicing medicine.
- While the OAFP has difficulty in fully engaging members, its membership continues to grow, members responded to its survey at almost double the rate of response that American Academy of Family Physicians achieves and the comments provided by respondents were very thoughtful.
- The OAFP’s primary activities remain essential:
- Defining policy positions that promote the role, importance, and value of family physicians; that enable physicians to concentrate on patients
- Advocating for these policy positions in federal and state legislation and rules
- Communicating important information to members; alerting them to coming changes and opportunities
- Educating members so they can take advantage of coming change; to be leaders in the health care of Ohioans.
Members described their highest priority issues for the OAFP to address as:
- Addressing reimbursement/payment reform (64)
- Filling the pipeline/workforce (47)
- Monitoring scope of practice expansion (42)
- Working with insurers and pharmaceutical companies (28)
- Telling the story of family medicine (28)
- Addressing physician burnout (27)
- Focusing on the patient-physician relationship (27)
- Addressing legislative interference into the practice of medicine (26)
- Offering education and resources on innovative models (22)
- Helping members cope with regulations, requirements, mandates, and documentation (20)
- Offering resources on how to sustain a private practice (17)
- Addressing electronic health record issues (16)
- Addressing issues with the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System and opioid prescribing guidelines (13)
The board reviewed and agreed to proceed with a structure surrounding the following summarized priorities:
- Help members navigate payment reform in a value-based environment
- Influence how health care value is defined, measured, and paid for
- Assist physician members to align with quality metrics that payers and patients demand
- More Ohioans receive care in a value-based payment system where primary care is in the lead.
- Bring the joy back to family medicine
- Identify and advocate for elimination of needless administrative burdens
- Create a culture of positivity and professional satisfaction
- Inspire current and future family physicians by focusing on the value family physicians provide to patients, to their community, and to overall population health
- Empower physicians through a supportive peer network.
- Lead the enhanced primary care movement in Ohio
- Educate stakeholders on the value that family medicine provides to the health of all Ohioans
- Assist family physicians and their care teams to maximize the benefits of value-based systems
- Provide practical guidance on practice transitions regardless of practice type.
- Pursue opportunities where family physicians can improve population health
- Focus on the expertise of family physicians to manage complex chronic conditions
- Harness tools which will assist practices in improving population health
- Influence key decision makers to support the production of family physicians in order to meet the health needs of Ohio’s citizens
- Leverage partnerships that promote the value of quality primary care.
- Ensure OAFP members receive value for membership
- Increase member engagement; activate members who are ready to lead
- Match Academy services and programs to meet member needs
- Identify and implement innovative methods to reach all members.
- Support the OAFP Foundation’s vision to ensure a sufficient family medicine workforce for Ohio.
- Create opportunities that influence career choice toward the path of family medicine
- Foster programs for students and residents that build meaningful connections to the Academy.
Next steps will be a day-long, in-person meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee on Sunday, March 6, during which the planning committee will refine strategic goals, develop objectives, and confirm/improve OAFP’s mission, vision, and values. And our final strategic planning meeting will occur in conjunction with the OAFP Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, April 16. Once a plan is adopted, the OAFP organizational structure and budget will be adjusted to support plan priorities. Stay tuned.