Standards of Excellence

The WAFCC believes that free or charitable clinics should be guided by established norms of care that will enrich the care of those people in greatest need. The WAFCC Standards of Excellence offer measurable guidance specific to the FCCs. The Standards are a strategic dynamic tool to help FCCs meet the challenges of health care delivery.

​Measurement of the Standards provide direction for goal setting, planning to meet goals, evaluating plans, and for guiding projects and actions. The Standards can also be used in creating new FCCs and for self-assessment by existing clinics. Attainment and maintenance of the Standards ensures the integrity of services and promotes trust with patients, providers and the community. While WAFCC recognizes each FCC may function differently, the Standards define those core, evidence-based, and regulatory elements that ensure health care services are effective, safe, patient/family-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable (Institute of Medicine S.T.E.E.E.P.).

A collaborative of the WAFCC members wrote the Standards. Input from experienced FCC members, three pilot clinics and an expert Advisory Board further guided the development of Standards to allow adaptation to a variety of clinic settings, yet possess sufficient rigor to challenge FCCs to achieve a high quality of care. WAFCC welcomes feedback from FCCs to foster an open dialogue for continual improvement within the Standards.

Seals of Excellence

Each Standard is written as a measurable statement describing the outcomes necessary to attain excellence. The document further defines two levels of evidence to describe what a successful clinic will look like once the Standard is met.

“Required Evidence” details the document, observable, or written process or tangible verification that demonstrates the standard is minimally met. 

To receive the annual Standards of Excellence Seal a clinic must demonstrate all Required Evidence is met for each of the Standards. 

“Optimal Evidence” details the document, observable, or written process or tangible verification to demonstrate the FCC exceeds the minimum requirements for that standard. Meeting the Optimal Evidence indicates a FCC has achieved the highest level of excellence for that standard.  Free and charitable clinics meeting all required evidence and further achieving more then one standard at the optimal level will receive special recognition and promotion through the WAFCC.

Standards Sections

1. Governance, Administration & Management (GAM)

• Governance and Administration (GAM1a-GAM1d)
• Operational Competency (GAM2a-GAM2c)
• Risk Management (GAM3a-GAM3e)
• Performance Measures (GAM4a-GAM4b)

2. Optimal Patient Care Services (OPC)

• Optimal Access to Care (OPC1a-OPC1d) 
• Care Management & Support (OPC2a-OPC2e)

3. Fostering Community Relations (CR)

• Effective Partner Health System Collaboration (CR1)
• Building Trust Relationships with the Community (CR2) 
• Reducing the Cost of Healthcare (CR3a-CR3b) 

This project is funded in part by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment of the Medical College of Wisconsin. The information contained in the WAFCC Standards of Excellence is not intended to serve as legal advice nor should it substitute for legal counsel. The WAFCC Standards of Excellence is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to seek additional detailed technical guidance to supplement the information contained herein.