America's community health centers (s) are uniquely poised to implement the patient‐centered medical home () model, as they are effective in providing comprehensive, accessible, and continuous primary care. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between recognition in s and clinical performance.
Data for this study came from the 2012 Uniform Data System () as well as a survey of s' recognition achievement. The dependent variables included all 16 measures of clinical performance collected through . Control measures included patient, provider, and practice characteristics. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regressions were conducted to compare clinical performance between s with and without recognition.
Health centers that receive recognition generally performed better on clinical measures than s without recognition. After controlling for patient, provider, and practice characteristics, s with recognition reported significantly better performance on asthma‐related pharmacologic therapy, diabetes control, pap testing, prenatal care, and tobacco cessation intervention.
This study establishes a positive association between recognition and clinical performance in s. If borne out in future longitudinal studies, policy makers and practices should advance the model as a strategy to further enhance the quality of primary care.
