Puerto Rico Primary Care Association Network
Asociación de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico, Inc.
Edificio Alianza, 400 Americo Miranda Ave San Juan, PR 00927-5142
Project Director: Hector I. Garcia
Voice: (787) 758-3411 xt.114
Fax: (787) 758-1736
Email: hgarcia@prpcan.net
Website: www.saludprimariapr.org
Health Center Controlled Network Cooperative Agreement Funds Requested: $750,000 Current HRSA Grant Number: H2QCS30284
The Asociación de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico (ASPPR) proposes to continue operation of the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association Network (PRPCAN), a currently funded Health Center Controlled Network. PRPCAN was initially funded in 2016 and has been funded continuously since then. PRPCAN currently includes twenty Health Center Program award recipients in Puerto Rico. Together, the health centers served nearly 380,000 patients in 2020 (nearly 12% of Puerto Rico’s population) at over 130 delivery sites.
Needs to be addressed: PRPCAN health centers need training and technical assistance to support leveraging their electronic health record systems and digital health information technology tools to deliver high-quality, culturally competent, equitable and comprehensive primary care, focusing on clinical quality, patient-centered care and provider and staff well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic forced expedited adoption and use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring devices, but it also significantly disrupted chronic care and preventive services in addition to interrupting implementation projects. COVID-19 pressures continue to take a heavy toll on the clinical workforce. Health centers need help with adapting workflows for effective use of digital tools to benefit both health center staff and patients. Health centers also need training and technical assistance to prepare them for successful transition to value-based care and payment. They need training and support to leverage their electronic health records systems, digital health tools and their network population health management system to engage patients in their care, safeguard personal and clinical data, and collect and use social risk factor data to improve patient care. Health centers also need training and support to exchange data with external partners, govern their data appropriately, and learn how to analyze and interpret it for planning and patient care.
Proposed Services: PRPCAN proposes to provide training and technical assistance to twenty participating health centers through formal trainings, peer learning groups, on-line resources, and direct technical assistance. The network will assist health centers with connections to Puerto Rico’s newly implemented health information exchange. PRPCAN will also collaborate with National Training and Technical Assistance Partners such as HITEQ for support and services to the network and participating health centers. The network will access external specialized expertise in addition to staff resources to support the health centers as they continue to develop their health information technology resources and use them to improve patient care.
Population Groups Served: The health centers participating in PRPCAN provide comprehensive primary care to patients of all age groups in federally designated Medically Underserved Areas in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, where health resources are limited, and patients are poorer with a higher prevalence of chronic illness. In 2020, 87% of the patients served by the health centers had incomes less than 100% of the federal poverty level. The patient population served includes Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured persons.