CHP Bright Spot: Developing a Collaborative Consent Process
The North Coast Health Improvement and Information Network worked with AcademyHealth's Community Health Peer Learning Program to enhance care coordination and reduce emergency department utilization by high-need, vulnerable clients served by permanent supportive housing and shelter programs.
In 2015, the North Coast Health Improvement and Information Network (NCHIIN) partnered with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Housing Programs to begin exploring local interest in and capacity for cross-sector data exchange – in part to better address the complex physical, behavioral, and social care needs of patients and clients who are identified as “super-utilizers.” NCHIIN and the DHHS team knew that a more robust process would need to be developed to work towards informed client consent – without which, clients might sign a release of information permitting participation in the project, and not understand that their case manager would be notified of their hospital encounters.
One valuable takeaway from NCHIIN's experience in the Community Health Peer Learning Program is the importance of allocating time and resources upfront to co-design consent rules and documents. This allowed the team to streamline the consent process and better communicate with clients about the project.
To read other bright spots from the Community Health Peer Learning Program, visit academyhealth.org/CHPBrightSpots.