KEY INITIATIVE:
CONSULT SERVICES

Organizational Priority #3

Demonstrate improvements in clinical and service quality resulting in satisfied customers.

Leader(s)

David Henderson, James Balow (NIDDK)

Collaborators

CC Departments, Institutes

Description

Quality of consult services has been an ongoing concern of the Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Balow, Clinical Director, NIDDK is chairing a subcommittee charged with assessing the current consult services and developing recommendations for improvement. The Clinical Center is working with Institutes to continuously improve these services in support of the intramural clinical research program.

The Internal Medicine Consult Service (IMCS) is a new internal medicine resource available to all Clinical Center patients. The IMCS is staffed by a board-certified internist and a nurse practitioner specializing in adult internal medicine. The IMCS will offer the following consultative services:

• diagnostic, comprehensive, ongoing care for general medical problems
• coordination of care for complex patients who require multiple, highly specialized consultants
• a central source for questions regarding care of patients with both routine and rare medical problems -- utilizing the unique pool of expertise available at the NIH

Accomplishments-to-Date

Internal Medicine Consult Service

• Needs assessment conducted of Institute and CC stakeholders
• Defined scope of program based on needs assessment
• Physician leader identified and contracted
• Nurse practitioner hired to support program
• Service implemented in November 1998
• Program received positive evaluation by Medical Executive Committee in
  April 1999

FY2000 Goals

• Maintain existing service and re-evaluate program to assure organizational needs are being met
• Re-engineer program scope and personnel based on results of needs assessment
• Work with Medical Executive Committee to implement additional improvements in consult services