About IPC
American Indians and Alaska Natives face high rates of illness, disability and death from chronic and preventable diseases. The Improving Patient Care (IPC) program supports IHS, Tribal and Urban Indian (I/T/U) programs in reducing these health disparities.
The purpose of the IPC program, which is part of the IHS Division of Innovation and Improvement (DII) of the Office of Quality (OQ), is to assist outpatient primary care teams in their efforts to achieve a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) standard of care and to support the pursuit of formal PCMH recognition. The IPC program is promoting the PCMH model of care throughout the Indian health system. Since 2008, this patient care model has improved the quality of health care, provided greater access to care and strengthened the positive relationships between care teams, patients, their families, communities and Tribes.
By using IPC program tools and resources, Indian health facilities will engage patients more fully in decision making, emphasizing prevention and wellness. To be successful, this will require the efforts of the entire care team and facility management.
The IPC program assists and supports Indian health facilities in:
- Focusing on patient- and family-centered care.
- Ensuring access to primary care for all American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- Providing consistent, high-quality care by Indian health care teams.
- Delivering care in concert with community and Tribal leadership aims.
- Making positive, sustainable and measurable improvements in care.
IHS senior leadership recognizes that fundamental changes in our system of care are required in order to achieve new standards of care. These changes include incorporating evidence-based medicine principles, providing point-of-care decision support, making care available to meet patient needs and integrating/coordinating care across the medical neighborhood. Please contact your local Indian health facility to learn more.
