Text Size

Idaho Primary Care Association


The Idaho Primary Care Association (IPCA) was incorporated in 1983 to represent Idaho's network of community health centers and their patients to promote and support accessible and affordable primary healthcare services to Idahoans. As Idaho's state primary care association, IPCA receives support from the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care to assist in achieving its mission.

Since 1983, the IPCA has been the leading state advocate for community-based healthcare programs. The association plays a vital role in educating federal, state and local policy makers about issues relating to healthcare and the role of community health centers. The IPCA also provides training and technical assistance to Idaho's 12 community health centers in the areas of community development, quality improvement, workforce development and health center operations.

We work hard to provide partnerships with a variety of federal, regional and state partners, including:

  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Bureau of Primary Health Care
  • The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
  • The Northwest Regional Primary Care Association (NWRPCA)
  • The state of Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare
  • Idaho Medicaid Division


Idaho Primary Care Association's location in Boise, Idaho's capital city, provides fast access to Idaho's legislative body, the Governor's office and the Department of Health and Welfare for issues affecting community health centers and their patients.


Goals for the Initiative

The vision of the Regional Coordinating Center (RCC) was to build a statewide learning community with a goal of transforming safety net clinics into patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs).

The role of the RCC was to support safety net clinics in their transformation to PCMH over four years, to assure that state health policy supports this transformation and to work with payers on reimbursement reforms that support the added value of the PCMH. The RCC also worked to assure that this model of care is sustainable and able to spread to other healthcare settings in Idaho and beyond.

To this end, the Idaho Primary Care Association worked to initiate the Idaho Medical Home Collaborative. The Idaho Medical Home Collaborative (IMHC) was established through Executive Order by the Governor of Idaho to make recommendations on the development, promotion and implementation of a Patient-Centered Medical Home Model of Care statewide.

At the patient and clinic level, our goals were to:

  • Improve health outcomes for chronic disease
  • Improve patient, clinician and staff satisfaction
  • Improve clinic flow/efficiency
  • Provide a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to patient care
  • Enhance provider recruitment and retention
  • Prepare for healthcare reform
  • Do the right thing for patients
  • Assist all of our partner clinics in transforming their practices into patient-centered medical homes


Partner Clinics (SNMHI)

  • Family Medicine Residency of Idaho—Boise
  • Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency—Pocatello
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Boise
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Homedale
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Melba
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Nampa
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Caldwell
  • Terry Reilly Health Services Clinic—Marsing
  • Health West, Inc.—Pocatello
  • Health West, Inc.—Aberdeen
  • Health West, Inc.—American Falls
  • Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics—Orofino
    See a snapshot of this clinic's work in the SNMHI
  • St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics—Cottonwood


Partner Clinics (Spread)

IPCA will continue the work of PCMH transformation with its remaining 10 health centers and associated clinics. All clinics are working on various aspects of patient-centered medical home transformation. Most seek validation of these efforts by applying for PCMH Recognition from the National Commission on Quality Assurance, the preeminent organization reviewing medical homes.  The clinics actively working on PCMH transformation at this time include:

  • Family Health Services—Buhl Clinic
  • Family Health Services—Twin Falls
  • Valley Family Health Services—New Plymouth Clinic
  • Valley Family Health Services—Payette
  • Glenns Ferry Health Center—Mountain Home Clinic
  • Glenns Ferry Health Center—Grandview Clinic
  • Glenns Ferry Health Center—Glenns Ferry Clinic
  • Kaniksu Health Services—Bonners Ferry Clinic
  • Kaniksu Health Services—Sandpoint Clinic
  • Kaniksu Health Services—Priest Lake Clinic
  • Community Family Clinic—Idaho Falls
  • Community Family Clinic—Roberts
  • Community Family Clinic—Blackfoot
  • Upper Valley Community Health Services—St. Anthony
  • Adams County Health Center—Council
  • Terry Reilly Health Services—Middleton Clinic
  • Community Health Association of Spokane—Lewis and Clark Clinic
  • Dirne Community Health Center—Coeur d’ Alene
  • Benewah Medical Center—Plummer


Links


Key Contacts

Tom Fronk
Executive Sponsor
Idaho Primary Care Association
1087 West River Street
Suite 160
Boise, ID 83702
tfronk@idahopca.org

Teri Barker, RN, BSN, MHA
Medical Home Facilitator
Idaho Primary Care Association
1087 West River Street
Suite 160
Boise, ID 83702
tbarker@idahopca.org

Tim Heinze, MHA
PCMH/Meaningful Use Program Manager
1087 West River Street
Suite 160
Boise, ID 83702
theinze@idahopca.org

Contact IPCA

Idaho Primary Care Association
1087 West River Street
Suite 160
Boise, ID 83702
www.idahopca.org