With the rising prevalence of healthcare information systems, enormous volumes of clinical data are readily available. As financial incentives for healthcare quality become a new reality, informaticians are facing increased pressure to discover new methods to use the electronic health record and accompanying data to improve clinical outcomes. A Dashboard- a unified display summarizing key information- can yield novel insights into data and aid in complex decision making. However, little is known about effective dashboard use in a clinical setting or at the point of care. To better understand the qualities of clinical dashboards that might facilitate adoption and effectiveness, we interviewed primary care clinicians at our institution. Data analysis using qualitative methods revealed common themes. We found that usability, accuracy, and relevance of data are critical. In addition, dashboard information should guide workflows and facilitate communication between developers and clinicians. We also identified system barriers and needed system facilitators at our institution. This knowledge might help guide future dashboard implementations targeting quality measures for population health.