PCHC Receives HHS Funding for Quality Improvement Achievements

January 22, 2015

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell recently announced $36.3 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 1,113 health centers to recognize health center quality improvement achievements and invest in ongoing quality improvement activities. Penobscot Community Health Care received a $92,379 award for its quality improvement efforts.

“This funding rewards health centers that have a proven track record in clinical quality improvement, which translates to better patient care, and it allows them to expand and improve their systems and infrastructure to bring the highest quality primary care services to the communities they serve,” said Secretary Burwell.

Theresa Knowles, FNP-C, PCHC Chief Quality Officer, States, “These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of PCHC providers and staff who are focused on improving the health and experience of all of our patients.   Quality improvement involves a committed team of individuals, with varied expertise, to develop sustainable systems and work flows. PCHC is lucky to have such a team!

PCHC was recognized for high levels of quality performance including:

• Health center quality leaders received awards if they were among the top 30 percent of all health centers in the country that achieved the best overall clinical outcomes, demonstrating their ability to focus on quality in all aspects of their clinical operations; 361 health centers received funding in this category for approximately $11.2 million dollars.
• Clinical quality improvers received awards if they demonstrated at least a 10 percent improvement in clinical quality measures between 2012 and 2013, showing a significant improvement in the health of the patients they serve; 1,058 health centers received funding in this category for approximately $17.7 million dollars.
• Electronic Health Record reporters received funding if they used Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to report clinical quality measure data on all of their patients, a key transformational step in driving quality improvement for all health center patients across the nation; 332 health centers received funding in this category for approximately $4.9 million dollars.

“These funds reward and support those health centers that have taken steps to achieve the highest levels of clinical quality performance and improvement,” said Health and Resources Administration (HRSA) Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.