The National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network: A Practice-Based Quality Improvement and Research Network.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement Science

Background:

• Home-based primary care (HBPC) for homebound older adults is often overlooked in quality improvement discussions.
• A need exists to elevate HBPC standards and foster accountability for care quality.
• The National HBPC Learning Network (LN) was established to address these gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and impact of the National HBPC Learning Network (LN).
• To foster a continuous learning culture and improve quality of care in HBPC practices.
• To create a community focused on growth and accountability in HBPC.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of HBPC practices in waves for structured quality improvement training.
• Monthly submission of progress updates, real-time feedback, and virtual workshops.
• Utilized a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle methodology and a quality improvement software platform.

Main Results:

• The LN includes 38 practices, serving 58,000 patients across 25 states, representing 26% of US HBPC patients.
• Participating practices improved performance in key areas: functional/cognitive assessment, falls prevention, advanced care planning, and vaccination rates.
• Case studies demonstrate strengthened practices through LN engagement.

Conclusions:

• The National HBPC Learning Network effectively cultivates a culture of continuous quality improvement.
• LN participation demonstrably enhances critical quality metrics in home-based primary care.
• The model provides a scalable framework for advancing HBPC quality nationwide.