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Back in 2021, the PCPCH Program launched its Health Equity Initiative to help guide improvements to the PCPCH model and standards. This initiative included a literature review, health disparity data analysis, and interviews with over 25 community-based organizations, practices, and agencies within Oregon. These partners provided valuable feedback and suggestions for what could be improved within Oregon's primary care system, which were included in the 2021 PCPCH Program Health Equity Initiative Report.
This month, the program published the Health Equity Initiative Final Outcomes Summary which provides an overview of how this feedback was applied in the 2025 PCPCH Recognition Criteria that PCPCHs began attesting under earlier this year. For each health equity issue that was identified, you can see what was changed or added to the PCPCH standards to make headway in that area.
We want to thank all of the primary care practices and community-based organizations that partnered with us throughout this process, and are excited to share your impact on patients throughout Oregon in the coming years! Feel free to check out other program initiatives and reports on our Reports and Evaluations webpage.
Friday April 11, noon - 1pm
The 2025 PCPCH Recognition Criteria was rolled out earlier this year and primary practices have already started applying or re-applying under the new model! PCPCH Program staff have been hosting a webinar series to help practices understand some of the revisions and additions that are included. You can click here to view the recordings of the webinars that have already occurred, which have focused on specific standards that have been revised under the 2025 model as well as the new Health Equity Designation that practices began applying for this year. This document also includes the registration link to the next virtual office hours session that program staff will be hosting on Friday, April 11th for anyone that would like additional guidance on the standards, criteria, application process, or any other program-related topics. We encourage all of our practices to use our team as a resource!
PCPCH Standard 3.A - Preventive Services recognizes primary care homes that routinely provide access to recommended age and sex-specific preventive care, including behavioral and developmental health preventive services, for their entire patient population. Practices can meet the highest level of this standard (Measure 3.A.3) by offering or coordinating 90% of the recommended preventive services listed in Table 3.A (pages 68-71 of the 2025 PCPCH Technical Assistance Guide) that are appropriate for their specific patient population.
PCPCH staff have developed a new Microsoft Excel tool to help practices more easily identify which preventive services are relevant to their patient population and calculate the proportion they offer. The PCPCH Standard 3.A.3 Calculation Tool is linked on page 68 of the TA Guide, along with instructions on how to use it. Feel free to reach out to pcpch@oha.oregon.gov for additional guidance, or if you have any other ideas for tools that might help with attesting to the PCPCH standards!
February 25, 2025
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recently reviewed data on sexually transmitted infections in Oregon and found that congenital syphilis rates have been rising significantly. Syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy in particular is increasing, resulting in more infants affected by this preventable disease. The consequences of untreated syphilis during pregnancy include miscarriage, growth restriction, preterm birth and fetal demise.
Generations of clinicians have had limited experience diagnosing syphilis due to its historically low prevalence, and the disease’s nonspecific presentation makes the diagnosis even more challenging. Addressing this crisis requires not only a concerted effort to educate providers and communities, but also expanded screening, treatment, and access to care. Click here to read the full memo which provides resources and strategies to combat the congenital syphilis epidemic in Oregon including:
- Universal screening and immediate treatment for syphilis in pregnancy
- Expanding syphilis screening
- Empiric treatment without delay
- Strengthening partnerships with local Public Health
- Reinforcing syphilis prevention strategies
 Thursday May 22, 8am - 5pm
The 2025 Healthcare Workforce Equity Conference will take place at the Salem Convention Center this coming May! This conference is for individuals and organizations dedicated to improving workforce development and fostering a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce. It will focus on strengthening the healthcare workforce through collaboration, diversity, and equity and will incorporate the most successful elements of cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion training, outreach and marketing, and service delivery for the healthcare workforce community. Click here to view more details and RSVP!
PCPCH Standard 6.B - Education & Self-Management Support recognizes primary care homes that empower their patients to manage their own health and wellness through culturally and linguistically appropriate patient engagement and self-management support. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has been exploring strategies for self-management of diabetes and other chronic conditions among both general populations and various subgroups. Examples of some of their findings are included below. Visit the PCORI website for more guidance around culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions!
- The Management of Diabetes in Everyday Life (MODEL) Study compared the effectiveness of three diabetes self-management approaches (encouraging text messages, printed educational materials, and regular in-person and virtual health coaching sessions) among African American adults with uncontrolled diabetes. The study found that all three approaches increased the number of days that patients reported exercising and following a healthful eating plan, and improved hemoglobin A1c levels. Personalized text messages (in addition to the printed educational materials) were especially successful in encouraging healthy eating.
- The Comparing Three Methods to Help Patients Manage Type 2 Diabetes study compared the effectiveness of daily text message reminders and regular check-ins with a community health worker among Medicaid patients with diabetes (with a third group that received both interventions simultaneously). The study found that both approaches individually led to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, patients more likely to monitor their blood pressure, and fewer hospital and urgent care visits.
Questions?
We are here to help! Contact us at PCPCH@oha.oregon.gov
About the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Program
Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes (PCPCHs) are health care practices that have been recognized by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for their commitment to providing high quality, patient-centered care.The PCPCH Program administers the application, recognition, and verification process for practices applying to become Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes.The program is also working with partners across Oregon to support adoption of the primary care home model. For more information visit www.PrimaryCareHome.oregon.gov.
The mission of the PCPCH Program is to be a trusted partner in primary care, collaborating with stakeholders to set the standard for transformative, whole-person, and evidence-based care.
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