Quality Counts: Sustainable Business Practices QI Toolkit

Sustainability is critical for school-based health centers (SBHCs). However, unlike clinical performance measures, no national set of sustainable business measures for SBHCs exists. Here’s what we know: successful SBHCs have a diverse funding portfolio, most often including in-kind partner donations (space), patient revenue (coding and billing), and supplemental grants. For SBHCs to find long-term success, their leaders must make a compelling case that proves the SBHC model is uniquely suited to help the broader health and education systems to achieve their own objectives.

Within the Sustainable Business Practices QI Toolkit, we recognize utilization, reimbursement, and efficiency all affect sustainability. As you look at your SBHCs, utilizing quality improvement to monitor and work to improve sustainable business practices drives enhanced business operations.