North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation Director of Practice Improvement, Terri Gonzalez, through NCMS Practice Consulting Services has covered a lot of territory recently visiting medical practices from Asheville to Cary to help them achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Patient Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) recognition. These programs offer a “seal of approval” that can translate into higher reimbursements. To achieve this coveted recognition, however, takes considerable time and expertise.
Of the over 20 practices Gonzalez currently is working with, six have submitted the necessary documentation to NCQA. Of those six, three have received the highest level of recognition and three have received the second highest level in the last few months.
Gonzalez, who is a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Content Expert and is certified by NCQA to offer consulting services on PCMH as well as Patient Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) recognition programs, brings the necessary experience to guide practices through the process and get it right the first time.
“Taking on the task of completing NCQA Survey Tool for a large practice is daunting, even with staff designated to work exclusively on the project. Attempting this task as a solo practitioner with no administrative resources is impossible,” said John J. Marks, MD, FACOG, of Raleigh. “Thankfully the NCMS has a resource to aid in this arduous task, and her name is Terri Gonzalez, Director of Practice Improvement. I had a real partner in this process and could not have come close to completing it without her help. She kept me focused on the important elements and gave encouragement when I felt like giving up. Any members considering an application for an NCQA certification, or who may be currently bogged down in the process, should absolutely take advantage of this valuable resource offered by the NCMS.”
If you are interested in NCMS Practice Consulting Services, applications for assistance on PCMH and PCSP in 2016 are now being accepted. Please contact Terri Gonzalez for more information. And look for NCMS Practice Consulting Services representatives at the NC Academy of Family Physicians meeting in December if you are interested in getting more information on how we can help in 2016.
