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The research component of the Midwest Clinicians' Network (MWCN) began more than fifteen years ago in an effort to improve the care provided in federally funded health centers through quality research efforts. The first project focused on patient with diabetes.  Collaboration with the University of Chicago and support from the Bureau of Primary Health Care and the Midwest Clinicians' Network enabled researchers to better understand the state of the care provided to these particular patients and to learn the perceived barriers to giving optimum care. These initial findings helped to establish the Bureau supported Diabetes Collaborative and provided information to the federally funded health centers to allow them to implement strategies to improve care.

 

MWCN has enabled researchers to better understand the care provided to patients at community health centers and at the same time provided advice and tools to assist Community Health Centers so that they can participate in research. Projects often focused on quality initiatives. Past research projects have focused on diabetes care as well as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. The MWCN has also explored staff morale and burnout, health literacy, and the care of the Latino patient. The MWCN is always looking for new research projects. You can contact info@midwestclinicians.org with your research ideas or needs.

 

Current Projects:

 

  • Diabetic group visit collaborative

  • Care integration in Community Health Centers and association with job satisfaction, morale and burnout

  • Perceived benefits of diabetes group visits in the safety net clinic setting

  • Safety net clinics’ barriers to implementing and sustaining diabetes group visits

 

 

Research

 

 

Articles that have been published:

 

  • “Quality of Diabetes Care in Community Health Center” American Journal of Public Health, 90(3), 431-4 2000.

  • “Barriers to Providing Diabetes Care in Community Health Centers” Diabetes Care, 24(2), 268-74 200.1.

  • “Improving Diabetes Care in Midwest Community Health Centers with the Health Disparities Collaborative” Diabetes Care, 27(1), 2-8, 2004.

  • “Providers, Assessment of Barriers to Effective Management of Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia in Community Health Centers.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 17(1), 70-85 2006.

  • “Provider Perceptions of Limited Health Literacy in Community Health Centers.” Patient Education and Counseling, 69¸114-120 2007.

  • “Improving and Sustaining Diabetes Care in Community Health Centers with the Health Disparities Collaboratives.” Medical Care, 45 (12), 1135-1143 2007.

  • “The cost consequences of improving diabetes care: The community health center experience.” The Joint Commission on Quality and Patient Safety, 34, 138-146 2008.

  • “Hypertension and hyperlipidemia management in patients treated at community health centers.” Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management, 15(3), 125-131, 2008.

  • “The perceived financial impact of quality improvement efforts in community health centers.” Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 31(2), 111-119 2008.

  • “Predicting changes in staff morale and burnout at community health centers participating in the health disparities collaboratives.” Health Services Research, 43 (4), 1403-1423 2008.

  • “Sustaining quality in community health centers: Perceptions of leaders and staff.” The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 31(4), 319-329.200.8.

  • “Insurance status and quality of diabetes care in community health centers.” American Journal of Public Health, 99 (4), 742-747. 2009

  • “Positive and negative spillover of the Health Disparities Collaborative in federally qualified health centers: Staff perceptions.” Medical Care, 48 (12), 1050-1056. 2010.

  • “Combating Obesity at Community Health Centers (COACH): A Quality Improvement Collaborative for Weight Management Programs.” Journal of Health Care For The Poor And Underserved, 24(2), 47-60. 2013.

  • “Community Health Center Access to Resources for their Patients with Diabetes”. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Center For Minority Public Health, January 12, 1557-1920. (2013).

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