Providence Physicians’ practices earn national recognition for patient-centered care
June 2, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC –The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that several Providence Physicians’ practices received the NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long?term, participative relationships. Providence Northeast Family Care, Providence Internal Medicine Northeast, Providence Internal Medicine Downtown, Providence Family Medicine Clemson Road, and Providence Family Medicine Heathwood were all designated Level 2 PCMH.
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patient- and provider-reported experiences of care.
“This recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said Providence Physicians Administrator Ken Beasley. “I am proud of our staff for working so diligently to implement the processes that allow us to give the right care, at the right time.”
To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, these Providence Physicians’ practices demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards align with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association. To find clinicians and their practices with NCQA PCMH Recognition, visit http://recognition.ncqa.org.
About Providence Hospitals, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System
Providence Hospitals is the leading provider of cardiovascular and orthopedic services in the Midlands. Providence is composed of two hospitals, thirteen physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, two sleep centers, a school of cardiac diagnostics and is an accredited chest pain center. In total, Providence employs more than 2,000 dedicated staff.
Founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Providence is known statewide for outstanding clinical quality and compassionate care. The Providence open-heart surgery program has ranked consistently in the top 15% of open-heart programs for the past six-and-one-half years. Both the orthopedic and cardiac services have received the South Carolina BlueCross BlueShield Blue Distinction Center designation. For more information, visit www.providencehospitals.com.
About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.
