Transforming Primary Care Practice (R18)

(RFA-HS-10-002)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Application Receipt Date(s): November 18, 2009

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) solicits grant applications from organizations that propose systematic studies of on-going, successful efforts to transform the delivery of primary care in the U.S.  The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) has been proposed by a broad coalition of providers, employers, insurers and others as a model for improving primary care in the U.S., and numerous health care systems and medical groups are currently attempting to transform their primary care practices into PCMHs.  These attempts go beyond incremental quality improvement activities and aim toward whole practice redesign.  The research funded through this announcement will first validate that healthcare quality, as reflected in quantifiable changes in process and outcome measures, has in fact improved subsequent to practice transformation into a PCMH.  Investigators will then study in detail how the transformation occurred and its impact on costs of care and actual patient and provider experiences/satisfaction.  In addition, investigators will study the organizational and contextual factors within practices that have influenced the success of these efforts. AHRQ is interested in research that will identify, describe and disseminate the best methods for transforming the structure, characteristics and function of primary care so that practices can improve quality, reduce costs, and better satisfy the needs of patients and families.