The Commonwealth Fund released a brief examining Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and methods to strengthen their ability to provide care.  The authors suggest formal partnerships with hospitals, improving office systems, adopting the medical home model, and increasing the use of health information technology as means to achieve that goal.

From the report: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community-based health centers that provide comprehensive primary health care and behavioral and mental health services to all patients regard­less of their ability to pay or their health insurance status.  Located in medically underserved areas, FQHCs are a critical component of the health care safety net.  FQHCs serve patient populations that are predominantly low-income, minority, and uninsured or rely heavily on public insurance.  Over 1,000 health centers operate approximately 6,000 sites throughout the United States and terri­tories. In 2010, these centers will serve an estimated 20 million patients.  The demand for health services provided by federally qualified health centers is likely to increase over time, particularly with the passage of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the nation’s health care reform legislation.  Since health centers play such a critical role in providing quality care to vulnerable pop­ulations, it is important to assess system capacity and spotlight areas where support for improve­ments can lead to increased access and quality of care.  

Full report:  Enhancing the Capacity of Community Health Centers to Achieve High Performance: Findings from the 2009 Commonwealth Fund National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers (PDF | 3.39 MB)

Commonwealth Fund.  (2010).  Enhancing the capacity of community health centers to achieve high performance: findings from the 2009 Commonwealth Fund National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers.  Doty, M., Abrams, M., Hernandez, S., Stremkis, K. and Beal, A.