The U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) continue to build capacity for an integrated primary care-level response to address the region’s increased non-communicable disease (NCD) rates, particularly complications of type 2 diabetes. In 2018, 11 multidisciplinary teams, representing healthcare systems across the region, now participate in the culturally relevant Pacific NCD Collaborative. The Pacific NCD Collaborative, established in 2011, is built on a participatory process that promotes co-learning and facilitates collaborative and equitable partnerships, building the skills and strengths of local leadership responsible for health.

Using the Pacific Care Model (PCM), patterned after the HRSA Health Disparities Collaborative Model, teams work to improve healthcare quality and outcomes by incorporating information technology, evidence-based disease management, organizational change best practices, and self-management support – strengthened by community resources. NCD Collaborative teams at the June 2018 Collaborative Learning Sessions reported the expansion of registries of patients with diabetes (including individuals lost to follow-up and previously undiagnosed) and progress in improving evidence-based preventive practices. Extension of partnerships also continue to shore up outreach and expansion of the PCM. For example, in partnership with HRSA’s National Hansen’s Disease Program, a train-the-trainer model honed skills for 12 USAPI healthcare professionals working to prevent lower extremity amputations in their communities.