Primary Care
Welcome to the Primary Care page of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Web site. Here, you will find information about the work that AHRQ is doing to improve primary care practice. The following links will take you to other resources that provide more detail about our work and provide you with valuable resources and information as it relates to primary care.
Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)
AHRQ recognizes that revitalizing the Nation's primary care system is foundational to achieving high-quality, accessible, efficient health care for all Americans. The primary care medical home, also referred to as the patient centered medical home (PCMH), advanced primary care, and the healthcare home, is a promising model for transforming the organization and delivery of primary care.
AHRQ has developed a Web site to provide decisionmakers and researchers with access to evidence-based resources about the medical home and its potential to transform primary care and improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of U.S. health care. Go to: http://www.pcmh.ahrq.gov.
Additionally, AHRQ has invested over $4.1 million to study the transformation of primary care practices into PCMHs. Select for the Transforming Primary Care Practice fact sheet to learn about the 14 grantees and to track their progress.
In addition, in 2011 AHRQ announced the funding of 4 cooperative grants to support sustainable state-level initiatives using primary care extension agents in small and medium sized primary care practices to assist with primary care re-design and transformation. To learn more about these grants select the IMPaCT Award Recipients fact sheet
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Meetings & Conferences
Conference on International Lessons in Primary Care: April 2011
On April 4, 2011, AHRQ hosted a small conference on international lessons in primary care system design and development. Leading thinkers, researchers, and implementers from Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom joined a delegation from the United States led to discuss models of care, system and community infrastructure, quality and safety, process of health system change and sustainability, and financing and incentives. The goal of the meeting was to propose a policy roadmap for the United States to revitalize its primary care system. The meeting was co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund and was organized in partnership with the AAFP's Robert Graham Center. The conference presentations and group discussions may be viewed on-line through April 30, 2012. Later in 2011, AHRQ will publish a summary of the conference and individual papers from each of the seven participating delegations.
A National Agenda for Research in Collaborative Care: Papers from the Collaborative Care Research Network Research Development Conference
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Research Findings
Research Activities: Online Newsletter
Summarizes study findings, including those specific or relevant to primary care
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Research Initiatives
AHRQ Centers for Primary Care Practice-Based Research and Learning (Sept. 2012)
AHRQ's Multiple Chronic Conditions Research Network
Health Information Technology: Turning the Patient-Centered Medical Home From Concept to Reality (Commentary)
Practice Based Research Networks
Research on Obesity and Overweight
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Fact Sheets
AHRQ Activities Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Address Health Care Disparities
PBRN Fact Sheet
Primary Care Workforce Facts and Stats
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Practice Resources
Care Coordination Accountability Measures for Primary Care Practice
Health Care Systems for Tracking Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests (Report)
Tracking and Improving Screening for Colorectal Cancer Intervention: A Systems Approach (Toolkit)
Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit
Hispanic Diabetes Disparities Learning Network in Community Health Centers
Integrating Chronic Care and Business Strategies in the Safety Net: A Toolkit for Primary Care Practices and Clinics
Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence Handbook for Nurses
Patient Self-Management Support Programs: An Evaluation
Tobacco Cessation
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Related Initiatives
Health Information Technology
Prevention and Chronic Care
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