case study
Tri-State Community Healthcare
California, USA
Transforming Operations, Outcomes, and Alignment for Underserved Communities
the problem:
Before partnering with Optimize Practice Alliance, Tri-State Community Health—a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving populations all over California—faced several operational hurdles that limited their full potential. Like many community health organizations, Tri-State was operating in a challenging landscape: team communication needed improvement, operational responsibilities were overly concentrated among leadership, and strategic scheduling approaches were underdeveloped.
Additionally, the absence of a Chief Operating Officer for six months created continuity gaps that impacted daily decision-making and long-term planning. Recruiting and retaining providers, particularly in rural locations such as Needles, remained an ongoing challenge. Tri-State’s team was committed, but without a strategic plan based on an optimization process and clearly defined structure, resources weren’t being leveraged to their fullest—and the entire organization felt the pressure.
the action:
Optimization Process and Solutions
Tri-State engaged Optimize Practice Alliance to implement the Practice Optimization Process™, a comprehensive approach tailored to improve performance, alignment, and patient outcomes.
- Hosted dedicated Vision Days to align leadership and clarify direction
- Initiated quarterly focus sessions (while sometimes extended, these became key moments for strategic reflection)
- Provider recruitment was directly supported through interviewing, and onboarding, easing the burden on internal leadership
- Delivered custom personnel solutions to ensure the right providers were in the right roles
- Introduced Dr. Diba as a fractional Dental Director, enhancing oversight and clinical compliance
- Built a culture of measurable accountability, driven by strategic KPIs and clearly communicated goals
The Solution:
Through the Practice Optimization Process™, Optimize Practice Alliance created a fully customized roadmap to elevate Tri-State’s operations to assist them in removing the obstacles to an optimized process for operations.
This included a strategic plan for:
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Clear, measurable goals
- Accountability frameworks across departments
- Recruitment support and aligned provider placement
This structured yet flexible system allowed Tri-State to operate with greater clarity, autonomy, and confidence—especially in rural service areas where retention and consistency are critical.
69.7% increase
in Encounters over 2024
RESULT:
In just 12 months, Tri-State achieved measurable success. From February 2024 to February 2025, total dental encounters increased from 866 to 1,470—a 69.7%, an increase in encounters year-over-year. This growth not only reflects the effectiveness of the operational changes but also speaks to the dedication of the Tri-State team in embracing a culture of clarity, accountability, and alignment.