Standards for Recognition
Eligible practices are accessible, accountable and offer comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care for patients and their families.
The Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Program worked with Oregonians across the state to set the standards that determine what a recognized primary care home looks like. Click here to learn more about the Standards Advisory Committee.
Please click here for important information on proposed changes to the PCPCH recognition criteria.
Core Attributes
- Access to care: Patients get the care they need, when they need it.
- Accountability: Recognized clinics are responsible for making sure patients receive the best possible care.
- Comprehensive: Clinics provide patients all the care, information and services they need.
- Continuity: Clinics work with patients and their community to improve patient and population health over time.
- Coordination and integration: Clinics help patients navigate the system to meet their needs in a safe and timely way.
- Patient and family-centered: Clinics recognize that patients are the most important members of the health care team - and that they are ultimately responsible for their overall health and wellness.
The Implementation Guide 
and Technical Assistance and Reporting Guidelines contain important information about the current 2011 standards and measures that practices must meet in order to recognized.
Note: The initial set of standards released in fall 2011 do not incorporate all of the standards articulated by the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Standards Advisory Committees, but rather a subset of standards that may be more feasible for immediate implementation. It is the intention of the Oregon Health Authority to continually assess the model and, based on experience and feedback, gradually modify and incorporate additional standards moving toward the full model envisioned by the Committees. Please click here to read important information about proposed changes to the recognition criteria.
Tiers of recognition
A clinic can achieve three different tiers of recognition depending on various criteria they can demonstrate meeting, with Tier 3 being the highest a clinic can achieve. The Self-assessment tool helps clinics determine which standards they may meet and which tier they would potentially qualify for; Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3. The Technical Assistance and Reporting Guidelines will help gather the documentation needed to demonstrate meeting each standard.
National Committee for Quality Assurance and Oregon
Many practices have already, or are in the process of, pursuing Patient Centered Medical Home recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. While this model is not identical to the Oregon primary care home model, there are areas of similarity. The Oregon Health Authority will recognize Patient Centered Medical Home sites at the level that the National Committee for Quality Assurance has recognized the site, with submission of additional information. If your clinic is already NCQA recognized, please contact PCPCH program staff to discuss your options at PCPCH@state.or.us