Help Mercy Clinics Improve the Care You Receive

Mercy Clinics are making changes in the way we give care to patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and asthma. We are using a computer to keep track of when patients are due for visits and if they are meeting their goals (such as: Is your blood pressure controlled?). Many of our clinics have hired Health Coaches to contact you when you are overdue for a visit or to help you make a plan to meet your goals. Health Coaches are a way for our clinics to keep in touch with you between visits.

We feel we can provide better service if we have our patients’ input about these changes and future changes we make. That is why we have formed a Patient Advisory Workgroup on Quality (PAW-Q). The purpose of the PAW-Q is to make patients our partners and use their suggestions as we plan new changes and improvements in the care given in Mercy Clinics.

The PAW-Q has about 12 patient members and 2-3 Mercy Clinic staff who meet at Mercy Hospital for 2 hours every 2 months. Members should:

• Already use Mercy Clinics for at least 3 visits a year.
• Be willing to express criticism constructively.
• Listen well and respect the opinions of others.
• Show concern for more than one issue, not just their experiences. (This is not a place to bring personal grievances).
• Be willing to devote the time involved.

If you are interested in serving on the PAW-Q Committee or would like more information please contact your Health Coach, the manager at your clinic, or:

Del Konopka, RNMS
Mercy Clinics’ Education Coordinator
Office 643-7393
dkonopka@mercydesmoines.org

Mission: “To make patients our partners in identifying opportunities and developing programs to improve the care experienced in Mercy Clinics.”