Health Center Controlled Network - 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: $955,000 annually for three years, $2,865,000 total Current HRSA Grant Number: U86CS45856 The Asociación de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico (ASPPR) proposes to continue operation of the Puerto Rico Health Center Controlled Network (PR-HCCN), a currently funded Health Center Controlled Network. The network was initially funded in 2016 and has been funded continuously since then. PR-HCCN currently includes 19 Health Center Program award recipients in Puerto Rico and 2 in US Virgin Islands. Together, the health centers served approximately 467,000 patients (14% of Puerto Rico’s population) at over 120 clinical sites in Puerto Rico, in addition to almost 15,300 (18% of U.S. Virgin Islands population) patients served in US Virgin Islands at 6 clinical sites between St. Thomas and St. Croix, based on UDS 2023. Needs to be addressed: PR-HCCN 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 data management and analytics, interoperability of systems and digital health tools, Uniform Data System Modernization (UDS+) implementation, artificial intelligence and value-based care. 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 a 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, learn how to analyze and interpret it for planning and patient care, and learn how to use artificial intelligence. Proposed Services: PR-HCCN proposes to provide training and technical assistance to twenty-one 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 health information exchange. PR-HCCN 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 and staff resources to support the health centers as they continue to develop their health information technology resources and improve patient care. Population Groups Served: The health centers participating in PR-HCCN 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 2023, 86% of the patients served by the health centers had incomes less than 100% of the Federal poverty level. The patient population served includes Medicare (14%, including dually eligibles), Medicaid (66%), and uninsured persons (5%), and the remainder of patients falls into private insurance (15%).
