Weeks Two and One Prior to Launch

Abstract

During these last 2 weeks prior to launch, the SMA champion and program coordinator again review how well the first four group visit sessions are filling. Check every day or two to see how many patients are scheduled into your first four SMA sessions. By now, you would ideally like to see the initial session filled close to the target census level. For DIGMAs, the next three weekly sessions would ideally be 75 %, 50 %, and 25 % full, respectively (for PSMAs, sessions should be filled 2–3 weeks ahead). If you always do this, you will establish a reasonable pace and readily achievable workflow—and you will avoid the necessity of later hurriedly filling insufficiently full sessions at the last minute. If the first couple of SMA sessions are not yet close to full (an urgent matter requiring immediate attention), then the champion and program coordinator should alert the physician and support staff. They also organize and lead any necessary final training sessions with appropriate support staff. In certain cases, this additional training might need to be provided in shifts so that the clinic’s normal daily functioning can continue unhindered. How well the initial DIGMA or PSMA sessions are filling will determine the degree to which this training is necessary.