State Variation in Quality Outcomes and Disparities in Outcomes in Community Health Centers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prior studies have reported that community health centers perform as well as other sites of care, despite serving more vulnerable patient populations. However, there is little prior study of geographic variation in quality outcomes and disparities in outcomes in this setting. Quantifying geographic variation is important so as to target quality improvement efforts and funding and to learn from states where total quality is highest and racial/ethnic disparities are lowest.

Objectives

To estimate between-state variation in hypertension, diabetes, and pregnancy outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in these outcomes for health center patients.

Methods

Using data on all US health centers from 2010 to 2014 (N=1047 health centers/year, or 21.2 million patients i

SUBMITTER: Cole MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5688017 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature