Bureau of Primary Health Care

In October, 1996, the federal BPHC began an initiative to promote accreditation of BPHC-supported health centers and reduce duplication with its own monitoring.  Under the current Accreditation Initiative, and the Joint Commission’s 3 year contract (April 2006 – March 2009), BPHC's statutory requirements described in their Program Expectations (formerly called the Primary Care Effectiveness Review or PCER) and the Joint Commission ambulatory care survey are combined into one unified process. A major benefit for health centers is that for the duration of the contract with the Joint Commission, BPHC pays ambulatory care-related accreditation fees for health centers both seeking initial and re-accreditation.   Read more.

• View List of Accredited BPHC Supported Health Centers - (3/12/08)
  
  

BPHC-Related Review Tools

• Self-Report Tool
• Joint Commission Ambulatory Care Standards Cross Walk to PCER Module 1 Mission & Strategy
• Joint Commission Ambulatory Care Standards Cross Walk to PCER Module II Clinical
• Joint Commission Ambulatory Care Standards Cross Walk to PCER Module III Governance
• Joint Commission Ambulatory Care Standards Cross Walk to PCER Module IV Management and Finance
• 2005 Program Assistance Letter (PAL)
• 2007 Program Information Notice

The tools above require Adobe Reader.

On-Site Survey Process

• Sample Survey Agenda - One Surveyor for Three Days * 
• Sample Survey Agenda - Two Surveyors for Three Days *
• Sample Survey Agenda - Two Surveyors for Two Days *

*Requires Adobe Reader.

Preparing for Survey

• Health Center Penetration Map *
• Sources for Accreditation-Related Technical Assistance
• Most Challenging Standards*
• Summary Description of Accredited Health Centers *
• Accredited Health Centers by State *
• Top BPHC Program Expectation Not In Compliance *
• Timeline of BPHC - Joint Commission Accreditation Initiative

*Require Adobe Reader.