Federally qualified health center transformation to the patient-centered medical home model: A qualitative study of provider experiences

A semi-structured interview was conducted with administrators within four separate federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that previously achieved level 3 patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It was hypothesized that these organizations may be able to share valuable lessons with other sites who are interested in pursuing NCQA-PCMH recognition. A qualitative framework analysis was performed, revealing various themes and sub-themes including reasons for seeking recognition, organizational performance improvements, diagnosis of approach, effectiveness of approach and overall lessons learned. Difficulties reported include interpretation of NCQA standards, data collection and reporting, patient engagement, restructuring of personnel responsibilities and emphasizing the importance of gaining participation throughout the organization.