USA Health outpatient practices earn PCMH recognition
Four USA Health practice locations – General Pediatrics, Pediatric Adolescent, Family Medicine and Stanton Road Clinic – recently were recognized as patient-centered medical homes.
By Nichelle Smith
nsmith@health.southalabama.edu
Four USA Health practice locations – General Pediatrics, Pediatric Adolescent, Family Medicine and Stanton Road Clinic – recently were recognized as patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
PCMH is a team-based model of care led by a personal provider who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes. In this concept, everyone has a personal provider, with whom they develop a positive relationship. The doctor takes care of the whole person and care is coordinated across the complex system.
The standards met by this national recognition program emphasize the importance of providing patient-focused care. “This means providing services that meet the clinical goals as a provider, but start by taking into consideration the patients’ needs and preferences,” said Sarah Kahalley, director of clinical resources at USA Health. “We focus our efforts to create a network around the patient to make sure the care continues even after they leave our facilities. We take responsibility for the patient’s care well beyond the typical office visits, navigating the patient through any hardships and barriers along the way. This concept requires our team to follow up on each element in the patient’s plan of care.”
According to Kahalley, PCMH recognition is beneficial for USA Health patients and our health system. “The patients benefit as it greatly enhances the level of care received all while lowering their overall healthcare costs,” she said. “Having the recognition also increases reimbursement and qualifies them for certain incentives provided by various health plans.”
Recognition as a patient-centered medical home includes other factors, as well – among them expanded access, support services and continuous quality improvement. “This recognition sets the patient expectation of the type of care you will receive at our health system,” Kahalley said. “It provides that patient with a sense of security knowing when they walk out of the door their care does not end there.”
