Project Summary:
Wisconsin’s free and charitable clinics (FCCs) serve over 382,000 uninsured and underinsured residents facing persistent barriers to care. These clinics operate outside traditional reimbursement systems, limiting access to infrastructure and resources needed for quality improvement. The Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (WAFCC) launched the Standards of Excellence (SOE) Program in 2017 to standardize and improve governance and care delivery processes across FCCs.
This proposed initiative expands the SOE framework by integrating equity-focused Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs). CQMs include both process measures, which assess whether evidence-based practices are being followed, and outcome measures, such as blood pressure control or diabetes management, which evaluate the impact of care on patient health status. Yet most FCCs lack the technical capacity, resources, and tools to collect and analyze clinical data. This initiative will provide tools, training, and resources to support data collection and use, including a standardized data management system and technical assistance, enabling clinics to track their clinical performance, identify gaps, and implement targeted interventions to improve health outcomes.
Clinics will gain the capacity to evaluate the quality of their care, compare results with statewide and national benchmarks, and share data that strengthens Wisconsin’s health information exchange. The project builds on WAFCC’s successful 2022-2024 AHW-funded Outcomes Measurements pilot, collaboration with the national Roadmap to Health Equity Project and partnerships with WCHQ, WISHIN, and DHS. It will foster statewide collaboration, elevate patient voice, and reduce disparities. AHW’s support will enable robust evaluation and position WAFCC to secure long-term funding. The result will be a scalable, measurable model for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to Wisconsin’s most vulnerable populations.
Community Partners: Americares Roadmap to Health Equity & Loyola University, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network, Wisconsin Department of Health Services