The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71680

Colleen A. McClurkin-Birge, MPH, CHES¹, Ron Nakamura, MPH, CHES², Tiffany K. Pang, MPH, CHES¹, Frayne B. Rosenfield, MPH, CHES¹, and Denise Schaefer, MPH, RD, CHES³. (1) Regional Health Education, Health Promotion and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente, 393 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91188, 626-564-3655, colleen.a.mcclurkin-birge@kp.org, (2) Education Services, Kaiser Permanente, 100 S. Los Robles, Suite 101, Pasadena, CA 91188, (3) Health Education, Health Promotion, and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente, 393 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91188

PACT (Project Algorithm Consulting Tool) is an administrative process used by Southern California's Kaiser Permanente Department of Health Education, Health Promotion and Prevention (HEHPP) to define projects to align with organizational and departmental priorities. PACT consists of three fundamental stages: (1) pre-planning/information gathering, (2) recommendations and consultation with senior staff, and (3) project planning with implementation teams. This presentation extrapolates on the relative advantage of using PACT, the specifics of implementation, and its ability to transfer lessons learned to other health care settings. At the completion of this session, participants will successfully understand how PACT can improve team collaboration and job and customer satisfaction, as well as maximize resources. PACT was developed in response to Kaiser Permanente organizational changes that expanded the role of the Health Education, Health Promotion and Prevention Department. Armed with a strategic plan—consisting of a departmental mission and vision to improve team collaboration, increase job and client satisfaction, and maximize resources—the department struggled to manage an exponential increase in project demands that outpaced the forethought required to plan, implement, and evaluate sound projects. Since these inadequately planned projects frequently resulted in frustration for both the client and HEHPP staff, the department worked together to create a new method of defining and developing projects called the Project Algorithm Consulting Tool. HEHPP now uses PACT to ensure that projects are clearly defined, with consistent communication among teams and multiple work requests managed and integrated between internal and external clients.

Learning Objectives:

2. Describe the three essential components of PACT.
4. Define some of the successes and failures of bringing the PACT process to real-world health education situations.
6. Describe ways a PACT process can be applied to their own work to achieve similar goals.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment

Handout (.ppt format, 205.5 kb)