Introduction
As part of its mission to improve health care, from primary prevention to chronic care management, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is exploring how to develop, strengthen, and sustain relationships among primary care practices, the community, and public health organizations in order to meet the needs of patients and families.
In 2008 and 2010, AHRQ convened two summits that focused on how linkages between clinical practices and community organizations (such as local health departments and community organizations) can enhance the delivery of clinical preventive services. At the 2010 Summit, stakeholders identified strategies to support local efforts to develop such linkages, and recommended the development of metrics to support related research. In 2011, AHRQ launched the Clinical-Community Relationships Measures (CCRM) project, a collaborative effort to explore how to define, measure, and evaluate programs that support the delivery of clinical preventive services through clinical-community relationships.
Experts with knowledge of primary care, community-based organizations, preventive services, and research methods collaborated to develop a CCRM Atlas and CCRM Evaluation Roadmap (to be released in the summer of 2013). The tools are intended for researchers studying clinical-community relationships, individuals seeking to evaluate interventions or demonstration projects, and primary care clinicians and community organizations that provide prevention services.
The Community Forum is designed to provide an environment for learning, sharing, and discussion among primary care and...
Vermont's Blueprint for Health program provides comprehensive, coordinated care while improving health outcomes and reducing costs. The Innovations Exchange video series, Vermont Blueprint for Health: Working Together for Better Care, describes successful linkages among primary care, public health, and clinical community resources in the state of Vermont.
On September 25, 2012, the Innovations Exchange held a related Webcast that featured the video followed by a panel discussion. Visit the Event page for more information.
