Patient Outcomes Better When Primary Care Practices Establish Patient-Centered Culture

Patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease had better physical functioning and were less likely to report being depressed if treated at primary care practices with well-developed patient-centered cultures, according to new research partially funded by AHRQ. The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Researchers surveyed 16 primary care practices and analyzed patient-reported outcomes of more than 4,300 patients. The researchers defined a patient-centered culture as one in which practice team members made greater efforts to engage patients while better coordinating their work with one another. They concluded that the growing movement toward more accountable care delivery and the increasing number of people with chronic illnesses underscored the need for primary care practices to engage patients in their own care. This research was funded as part of AHRQ’s Comparative Health System Performance Initiative, which studies how health care delivery systems promote evidence-based practices and patient-centered outcomes research in delivering care. Access the abstract.