Project iCARE: Innovative Care Approaches through Research and Education

The UCLA School of Public Health, The California Primary Care Association (CPCA) and the Community Health Partnership (CHP) are partnering to conduct research focused on two innovative care approaches in Community Clinics and Health Centers (CCHCs) throughout Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties. This research partnership will build on the clinics’ ongoing work focused on improving delivery systems for patients with chronic conditions.  Project iCare, funded by the Agency of Health Care Research and Quality, will provide a unique opportunity to compare the effectiveness of two team-based strategies increasingly used by CCHCs for managing diabetes care.

CCHCs serve diverse, vulnerable populations with high prevalence of diabetes and other chronic conditions. Project iCare’s goal is to compare the effectiveness of, 1) office-based patient panel management by medical assistants and 2) community-based care management by community health workers, on improving the quality of diabetes care and patient self-care behaviors. The research has potential to impact the growing number of individuals seeking care at CCHCs. 

Uncontrolled chronic illness negatively affects the US healthcare system’s ability to meet the growing needs for all who will seek primary health care with the implementation of health care reform. By identifying and disseminating financially feasible approaches for delivering chronic illness care, Project iCare, has potential to address the growing need for comprehensive primary care.

The Principal Investigator is Hector P. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH. CPCA contact is Vanesscia John and Partnership contact is Jorge De Luna, MPH.