Protocol Title: Practice Certification in Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC)

KEY INFORMATION

We are seeking to evaluate the feasibility of developing home-based primary care practice accreditation / certification. This would be akin to the NCQA patient-centered medical home practice certification process used in office-based internal medicine practices. This study is funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation and sponsored by the National Home-based Primary Care Learning Network.

PURPOSE

You are being asked to take part in a research study because we are particularly interested in the views of HBPC practice leaders and HBPC clinicians. A home-based primary care practice certification process implemented at the national level by a credible certifying body could help practices engage with payers and health systems in the context of value-based care initiatives.

PROCEDURES

During a 30-60 minute Zoom focus group or interview we will ask you a series of questions. You will be interviewed by study staff at either Massachusetts General Hospital or Johns Hopkins University. Your participation is an opportunity for your organization to contribute to improving how HBPC is delivered in the U.S. Participation in our focus groups is strictly voluntary. The QR code attached to the study flyer will take you to a form to document your consent followed by a brief survey to collect basic demographic information. If particular practice leaders do not wish to complete the focus group or interview, they have the right to refuse without consequence. Our colleagues at the Home-Centered Care Institute (HCCI) will pay you with a $50 gift card per 30 minutes of participation for this one-time focus group. You will need to reach out to Melissa Singleton at MSingleton@HCCInstitute.org with the date you completed the focus group to request your gift card.

Audio recordings:

As part of this research, we are requesting your permission to create and use an audio recording of the focus group. After the focus group, the recording will be transcribed and used to help verify our notes. Recordings and other identifiable information gathered will be stored securely behind MGB firewall. We ask that you avoid sharing screen or using the chat feature during this Zoom focus group. We also ask that you avoid stating anything that could be individually identifiable during the focus group. Similar interviews will be conducted with other HBPC practice leaders, clinicians, staff, professional organizations, certification groups, and consumer groups. All data will be compiled into a report for The John A. Hartford Foundation. Recordings will not be used for advertising or other non-study related purposes.

You should know that:

• You do not have to agree to the audio recording in order to take part in the interview.
• You may request that the recording be stopped at any time.
• If you agree to allow the recording and then change your mind, you may ask us to destroy that recording. If the recording has had all identifiers removed, we may not be able to do this.
• We will only use the recording for the purposes of this research.
• The audio recording will be transcribed by an outside company that has agreed to keep all data confidential.

Research Staff: Please indicate the participant’s decision below by checking the appropriate statement:

RISKS/DISCOMFORTS   

You may fear a loss of confidentiality through participation in this research study. We can assure you that your identity will be kept confidential. All reports and publications will be stripped of your personal information. Your identity and the content of the focus group will only be known to the study team at MGH and Johns Hopkins University.  Your identity will be known to the Home-Centered Care Institute (HCCI) if you request a gift card. All recordings and identifiable information will be stored safely behind MGB firewall.

You may get tired or bored when we are asking you questions or we may ask you something that you would prefer not to answer. That is fine – you do not have to answer any question you do not want to answer.

BENEFITS

There is no direct benefit to you from being in this study, however, your participation is an opportunity to assist us in the development of home-based primary care practice accreditation / certification akin to office-based internal medicine practices. You may benefit from the feeling of contributing to the field of home-based primary care.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION  

You do not have to agree to do this interview and take part in this study. 

You can agree to be in this study now and change your mind later. If you wish to stop, please tell us right away.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact the Principal Investigator Dr. Christine Ritchie at (617) 726 1382 or csritchie@mgh.harvard.edu or Program Manager, Naomi Gallopyn at ngallopyn@mgh.harvard.edu.

If you’d like to speak to someone not involved in this research about your rights as a research subjects, or any concerns or complaints you may have about the research, contact the Partners Human Research Committee at (857) 282-1900