PRAPARE

Download PRAPARE screening tool

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is PRAPARE?

The Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) is a nationally recognized and standardized patient social risk assessment protocol. PRAPARE is both evidence–based and stakeholder–driven, containing measures on 21 social determinants of health that align with national initiatives, including the standardized codification sets under ICD–10 and LOINC as well as health centers’ Uniform Data System  (UDS).

What does PRAPARE measure?

PRAPARE measures the following core categories:

  • Personal Characteristics: Race, Ethnicity, Farmworker Status, Language Preference, veteran Status.
  • Family and Home: Housing Status and Stability, Neighborhood
  • Money and Resources: Education, Employment, Insurance Status, Income, Material Security
  • Social and Emotional Health: Transportation Needs
  • Other Measures include: Incarceration History, Refugee Status, Safety and Domestic Violence

For additional information, please view the PRAPARE Assessment Tool.

What makes PRAPARE unique and effective?

● Actionable
● Widely Used
● Built into EHRs and other HIT
● Standardized
● Works in any workflow setting
● Patient–Centered
● Evidence Based & Stakeholder Driven
● Designed to Accelerate Systemic Change

Is the use of PRAPARE limited to health centers only?
The use of PRAPARE is not limited to health centers and could be used by others including community-based or social service organizations, hospitals, and health systems.
Do all PRAPARE questions need to be answered for the assessment to be completed?

It is encouraged to ask a full set of core questions as the collection of data becomes a standardized pathway to address patient–level risks and broader community issues. Additionally, using the full PRAPARE is important when adding social data into risk stratification.

Is there a cost associated with using PRAPARE?

PRAPARE is available for free to end users such as Community Health Centers. Health Information Technology (HIT) vendors and software companies supporting end users and looking to integrate PRAPARE into their  products, contact us for additional information on IP and licensing agreements.

Which staff should conduct the PRAPARE screening?

Both clinical and non–clinical staff can administer PRAPARE (e.g., nurses, MAs, LCSWs,  case managers, CHWs, etc.) and many organizations administer it through Tablets or other IT enabled approaches. Staff time  depends on the staffing model and workflow.

Is PRAPARE available in other languages besides English?

PRAPARE has been translated into 26 languages. Health centers were engaged to validate and test the translations to ensure that they were accurate and culturally appropriate.

PRAPARE Translations

How often should a PRAPARE form be asked?

Organizations can decide on the frequency of readministering PRAPARE, although we recommend at least annually. For example, race and ethnicity might be answered once and then revalidated annually. Or a health center might determine that a material security question is needed to be asked at each visit due to the local economic condition.

What workflows should we plan for in order to implement PRAPARE?

Health centers that use PRAPARE develop individualized workflows based on their local care team and staffing models. A concept of “no wrong door” can be implemented, where any staff member can administer the questions based on the center workflow and staffing resources available.

 

PRAPARE Implementation and Action Toolkit, Chapter 5 (Workflow Implementation)

Which Electronic Health Records currently include PRAPARE?

The following Electronic Health Records currently include PRAPARE: 

  • eClinicalWorks
  • NextGen
  • Cerner
  • Athena

If your EHR system is not listed – please have your EHR vendor contact the PRAPARE Team.

 

 

 

How do you engage health center leaders, care team members and other staff, and boards in administering PRAPARE?

It is important to demonstrate how PRAPARE is making a difference in your organization and/or your community to sustain engagement and motivation.

There are several ways to do this:
● Celebrate successes!
● Encourage friendly competition.
● Visualize and share the data.
● Apply lessons learned.

Is PRAPARE validated?

The PRAPARE Validation Fact Sheet highlights how PRAPARE was developed and validated using the 8 “Gold Standard” Stages of Measure  Development

Is there a version of PRAPARE that is tailored for pediatrics/adolescents?

Currently there is no PRAPARE version that is specifically tailored for  pediatrics/adolescents. There are health centers who use PRAPARE to screen pediatric and adolescent populations, and the way in which they screen will vary based on their staffing model and engagement of family members.  

Case study Compass Community Health’s Implementation of PRAPARE with Pediatric and Adolescent Patients and Their Families that you might find useful.

How can I stay updated on the latest from PRAPARE?

Join the PRAPARE Listserv
E–mail: prapare@nachc.org
Twitter: @prapare_sdoh

For more common Q&As download the FAQ Inventory. The FAQ Inventory is updated on a quarterly basis.