Performance Improvement as a Foundational Component of the Clinical Model of Family Medicine: Rationale, Concerns, Ways Forward

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2026

Publication Title

J Am Board Fam Med

Keywords

Family Practice, Humans, Quality Improvement, Patient-Centered Care, Physicians, Family, Certification

Abstract

In August 2025, leaders from family medicine organizations and representative patient stakeholders met for discussions regarding the evolution of the clinical model for family medicine. Performance improvement (PI), long a part of the continuing board certification process, was among the topics discussed. Pockets of concern or confusion remain about the relevance, importance, practicality, and administrative burden of PI for practicing family physicians. This discussion paper summarizes concerns about PI as commonly currently operationalized and outlines the rationale for inclusion of PI in the clinical model of family medicine. It outlines opportunities for the progression of PI to become less single-disease metric focused to practically focus on team-based care, complexity, and patient-centered outcomes, while accounting for the variety of contexts in which family physicians practice.

Medical Subject Headings

Family Practice; Humans; Quality Improvement; Patient-Centered Care; Physicians, Family; Certification

PubMed ID

42595481

Volume

39

Issue

1

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