Clinical Quality Transformation

Our primary role in improving health care for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable communities and populations begins with the development of enhanced clinical delivery systems. By transforming the way physicians and patients interact, and by equipping providers with the latest tools and methods, we promote a more balanced and effective health care system.

Over the past decade, HPCA has facilitated the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement programs in Hawai‘i’s Community Health Center network. Using nationally-recognized models of excellence like the Chronic Care Model and the Model for Improvement (PDSA), Hawai‘i’s health centers created innovative solutions that reduced barriers to access and improved the management of complex, chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Building the Future: Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Having helped CHCs develop the basic infrastructure for a culture of continuous quality improvement, HPCA is now embarked on the development of Patient-Centered Medical Homes. These care delivery models combine a dedicated physician and health care team, coordination of care with specialists and hospitals, electronic medical records to monitor health outcomes, integrated services, and direct patient-family involvement. By placing you at the center of the process, and surrounding you with a comprehensive, supportive team of providers, the Patient-Centered Medical Home creates a culture of wellness aimed at keeping you and your family healthy.

Read more about how CHCs are building medical homes here in Hawai‘I.

Quality Data

The Hawai‘i Primary Care Association issues an annual report to its Bureau of Primary Health Care Project Officer on the state of quality improvement in its member health centers. As part of that report, HPCA provides a snapshot of clinical quality data that illustrates how health centers are improving the state of chronic disease management and reducing health care disparities.

In 2007, HPCA developed a quality digital dashboard, which includes a comprehensive set of clinical outcome measurements submitted to us by nearly all Hawai‘i health centers. This tool allows health center providers, administrators, and clinical quality staff to monitor their progress in improving patient outcomes for diseases like diabetes and hypertension, as well as common preventive care measures like immunization and cancer screening.

The blinded/anonymized data set can be viewed here.

For questions on the quality improvement program and the digital dashboard, please contact HPCA’s Clinical Services Coordinator, Charlene Blair.