Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion
Summer 2026
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Lisa Thomas
Abstract
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to connect patients to a Primary Care Provider (PCP). The specific aim was to increase by 25% the percentage of patients without a PCP who established care with a PCP within 30 days of visiting the Same Day Clinic (SDC).
BACKGROUND
The SDC provides episodic care for acute illness, making it difficult to coordinate care for patients who do not have a PCP and require follow-up. The project was implemented in an outpatient clinic that is connected to a larger primary care group in Houston, Texas.
METHODOLOGY
The intervention included first identifying patients without a PCP during their SDC visit, then verbally recommending they establish care with a PCP, providing printed instructions, and sending a 48-hour message with scheduling instructions to reinforce the message. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles informed changes to the intervention, including changing from 48-hour to seven-day messaging and the addition of a text message reminder.
RESULTS
Following 8 weeks of monitoring the change, the post-implementation percentage of patients who successfully established care with a PCP increased by 21 percentage points from baseline. Results were shared with leadership with the goal of applying the intervention to other clinics.
IMPLICATIONS
The intervention was successful in connecting patients to a PCP, with the goal of improving care coordination. Automating the intervention’s portal and text message reminders would aid in sustainability of the process improvement.
Keywords
care coordination, primary care, primary care provider, continuity of care, quality improvement, patient navigation, care transitions, DNP, PCP
Recommended Citation
Saba Zabarah, "Enhancing Care Coordination Between the Same Day Clinic (SDC) and Primary Care Group (PCG) by Facilitating Care Establishment with a Primary Care Provider (PCP)" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract. 200.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dnp_abstract/200