After applying in late 2011, Roxboro Family Medicine & Immediate Care was recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a 2008 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH2008) in February of this year. The practice worked with PractEssentials, a North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) program that provides consulting services to practices that need assistance with practice management in areas such as managed care contracting, health information technology, and electronic health record (EHR) assessment and implementation. The services offered through PractEssentials are available to members at a discounted rate.
With the help of the NCMS PractEssentials program, the practice was able to file all of the documentation and reports needed to receive PCMH2008 recognition. “Our practice was given access to a consultant whose knowledge allowed us to understand the steps necessary in becoming a medical home, which was helpful since we had some difficulty upgrading our EHR system,” said NCMS member Elizabeth Riley, PA-C, MHS, of Roxboro Family Medicine. After deciding to apply for PCMH recognition in November 2011 leaving just a few weeks to prepare, “We completed our PCMH requirements in record time thanks to the support from the NCMS and a lot of hours put in by our fantastic staff,” said Ms. Riley.
Since PCMH implementation is comprehensive it takes the entire practice working together to understand and implement this process. Knowing the capabilities of their EHR system and organizing documentation also is helpful.
In addition to using PractEssentials, a majority of Roxboro Family Medicine physicians and physician assistants have participated in the NCMS Community Practitioner Program (CPP). Through CPP, health care professionals are dedicated to providing care to patients in underserved, economically distressed areas. Becoming PCMH recognized is a tremendous accomplishment for a practice serving this population.
Now, the practice will be able to use their NCQA recognition to provide even more community-based, patient-centered care. “Our goal, as a PCHM, is to create a practice environment where patients know that their medical care is individualized,” said Ms. Riley. “We want to work with other facilities to improve continuity of care, maximize safety, and reduce cost for our patients.” The practice is committed to building a trusting and dependable patient-physician relationship.
For more information regarding PCMH consultations and recognition, contact Terri Gonzalez, Director of Practice Improvement, at 800-722-1350 or [email protected]. To learn more about PractEssentials, click here.
Related Bulletin article:
Raleigh Practice Reaches Highest PCMH Distinction (3-16-12)
NCMS Assists Asheville Physicians Reach Highest PCMH Distinction After Fire Destroys Practice (7-27-12)
