Learn how to deliver quality preventive care more efficiently

Editor's note:The 2019 AAP National Conference & Exhibition will take place from Oct. 25-29 in New Orleans.

“I’ve got more than enough time to complete this well-child visit,” said no pediatrician ever.

Instead, you’re probably thinking, “There’s got to be a better way,” as you race against the clock to review the patient’s history, complete the physical exam, provide vaccines and anticipatory guidance, and answer parents’ questions.

In fact, there is a better way — and it will be outlined during a session titled “Improving Practice Efficiency to Deliver High-Quality Preventive Services” from 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 (I3171) and again from 8:30-10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28 (I4050) in room 295 of the convention center.

The interactive session will be led by Edward Curry, M.D., FAAP, and Judith S. Shaw, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.N., FAAP (Hon.). Dr. Curry is a member and Dr. Shaw is co-chair of the Bright Futures Steering Committee.

The pair will explain how to use Bright Futures tools and forms and the related Periodicity Schedule to structure well-child visits.

“I understand the issues that the pediatricians are struggling with,” said Dr. Curry, a general pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center in California. “We’ve got all of these competing priorities going on, and we only have 15 or 20 minutes to cover all of these topics.”

One strategy Dr. Curry will emphasize is to take advantage of previsit questionnaires that can be used for health supervision visits from birth to age 21 years.

“If you use a previsit questionnaire, you can start the visit before you even see them (patients),” he said. “It’s a way to direct you to the topics that … they’re having difficulties with, or you’re able to find out there’s a risk that you need to review or go over. If they’re doing other things well, then you don’t need to review those factors.”

Attendees also will get hands-on practice using the Bright Futures tools and resources as they work in small groups. A facilitator will guide group members in a discussion of how they can use the Bright Futures resources in their own practice to address a specific area such as autism screening, maternal depression or social determinants of health. Participants then will share their ideas with the whole group.

“If they utilize Bright Futures within their practice,” Dr. Curry said, “they can do the well-child visit in a timely and quality way.”

For more coverage of the 2019 AAP National Conference & Exhibition, visit http://bit.ly/AAPNationalConference19.