CAI National Clinical and Preventive Excellence Initiative
Advancing Clinical Quality and Preventive Care for Health Centers Nationwide
Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI) is proud to lead the Clinical and Preventive Excellence National Technical Assistance Program (NTAP), a national effort that helps health centers strengthen primary care access, improve clinical quality, expand preventive services, and reverse disease trends. Through tailored technical assistance, resources, and quality improvement support, CAI will support health centers to achieve measurable improvements in patient outcomes and advance better health for millions of people nationwide.
Partnering with Health Centers to Deliver High-Quality Comprehensive Care
Health centers play a vital role in the nation’s healthcare safety net, delivering affordable, accessible, and comprehensive care to over 32 million of medically underserved Americans across the country. Health centers know their communities best and understand the unique needs of the individuals and families they serve, the challenges they face, and the opportunities to improve health. As health centers confront issues that affect how they provide vital services and, in turn, the care and wellness of the communities they serve, CAI’s National Clinical and Preventive Excellence Initiative will provide timely, actionable support through tailored technical assistance and resources.
The initiative is designed to help health centers strengthen clinical systems, improve care delivery, and build sustainable models that support better outcomes for patients, families, and communities.
Priority Focus Areas
- Access to comprehensive primary care — helping health centers reduce barriers to timely preventive and chronic care services;
- Chronic disease management — including hypertension, diabetes, depression, and behavioral health conditions;
- Preventive services — including cancer, BMI, and developmental screenings;
- Care continuity and coordination — strengthening patient experience and communication between patients and care teams;
- Mental health and behavioral health integration;
- Oral health and prevention, with an emphasis on integrating oral health into primary care;
- Patient support services, including case management, care coordination, transportation, and outreach;
- Prevention of intimate partner violence and human trafficking;
- Clinical quality improvement, assurance, and patient safety
- Clinical practice transformation
- Community health and health-related needs, using data to identify and close care gaps.
Our Technical Assistance Delivery Approach
Tailored to Meet the Health Center’s Capacity and Need
Resources
Web-based toolkits, implementation guides, and other digital resources.
• Available to every health center to improve awareness, knowledge, and support implementation of data-supported interventions and promising practices.
National Webinars
Live sessions featuring high-performing health centers that deliver practical, data-supported guidance and promising practices that achieve measurable improvements in patient health outcomes.
• Recorded and archived for on-demand viewing.
Outcomes-Focused Cohorts
Six cohorts of 40 health centers in or below the third quartile in clinical performance to improve clinical outcomes and access to comprehensive, high-quality care:
– Two cohorts will address controlled hypertension– Two cohorts will address weight assessment and counseling– One cohort will address breast, cervical, and colorectal screening– One cohort will address depression screening and follow-up
• Addressing IPV will be integrated into cohort activities.
• Ongoing implementation support provided through individualized technical assistance from practice facilitators, subject matter experts, and clinical consultation.
Communities of Practice (CoP)
Eight virtual CoPs of 12 health centers, six sessions each, with a team-based focus area for improvement supported by individualized facilitation coaching.
• Structured peer learning focused on a shared area for improvement.
• Focus areas: access to comprehensive primary care, chronic disease management, preventive screening, mental health, oral health, maternal health, IPV and human trafficking, and clinical quality improvement, quality assurance, and patient safety.
Stay in Touch with CAI NTAP