On May 15, Duke Family Medicine Center received notice that we had been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) through May 13, 2018. This is the highest level recognition by the NCQA, and it is a designation that our practice has maintained continuously since 2008.
NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90 percent of the nation’s health plans. The recognition programs assess whether clinicians and practices support the delivery of high-quality care, and are built on evidence-based, nationally recognized clinical standards of care. The official NCQA directory of recognized clinicians can be accessed athttp://recognition.ncqa.org.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Duke Family Medicine has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”
So why does this matter to our patients, and to our providers and staff? Most importantly, it demonstrates our commitment to, and success in providing high-quality care for patients as the central component and beneficiary of our services.
In addition, the recognition represents the culmination of a lot of hard work by all members of our practice, including staff, providers and our quality improvement (QI) team.
A special thanks to the QI team, including Mo Shahsahebi, M.D., MBA; John Ragsdale, M.D.; Deborah Sharp-Dale, PA-C; Kathryn Ramer, SSA/QI analyst; and Michelle Frost, QI coordinator. Administrative staff members Stacie Nichols, nurse manager, and Delfino Juarez, panel manager, were instrumental in spreading change throughout the clinic.
I specifically want to thank Kathryn and Michelle, whose tremendous attention to details and deadlines allowed us to achieve this important recognition. The team has built a system upon which we can continue to improve our care delivery, and with which we can maintain such recognition. We can all be proud of the outcome.
Sharon Hull is division chief of the Division of Family Medicine. Email sharon.hull@duke.edu with questions.
Editor’s note: Dr. Hull guest blogs of every month.