Objective: We compared quality of care for uninsured patients with diabetes in private physician offices and community/migrant health centers (C/MHCs).
Research design and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional medical record review in a convenience sample of eight physician offices and three C/MHC sites in rural North Carolina. Billing systems generated lists of self-pay patients with diabetes. Abstraction of the medical records (n = 142) yielded data on process and intermediate outcome measures of diabetes care, which were derived from the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project.
Results: Medical records of patients in C/MHCs demonstrated higher rates on four of six process measures of quality of care, including measurement of HbA(1c) (98 vs. 75%; P < 0.001), cholesterol (82 vs. 51%; P < 0.001), and urine protein (90 vs. 25%; P < 0.001). Nonsignificant trends in documented eye examinations and the intermediate outcome of blood pressure control were found in medical records of C/MHC patients. No differences were seen in the intermediate outcomes of glucose or lipid control. Notable differences in provider type, time since training, and use of flow sheets were found.
Conclusions: In our sample, uninsured patients with diabetes in C/MHCs had higher quality of care as suggested by higher rates of processes of care. Outcomes were similar in the two settings and well below targets. Further work is required to replicate these findings and to understand which features of C/MHCs may facilitate quality care for the uninsured and are replicable in other settings.