All of the Memorial Physician Services’ primary-care locations were recognized as Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Homes, the highest level possible, by the National Committee for Quality Assistance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 (PCMH 2011) program.

The designation recognizes Memorial Physician Services for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term relationships.

The patient-centered medical home is a model of care emphasizing care coordination and communication to transform primary care into what patients want it to be. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality that can improve patients’ and providers’ reported experiences of care.

“Patient-centered medical homes are rapidly gaining momentum and attention as an innovative approach to primary care,” said Dr. Mark Hansen with Memorial Physician Services–Koke Mill. “The intent is to offer more personalized, coordinated, effective and efficient care.”

To receive the Level 3 recognition, which is valid for three years, Memorial Physician Services demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home.

The designation puts Memorial Physician Services on par with a small but elite group of healthcare providers nationwide that have been able to achieve Level 3 status, said Dr. Gerald Suchomski, medical director of quality programs for Memorial Physician Services.

The NCQA PCMH 2011 Recognition program identifies practices that promote partnerships between individual patients and their personal healthcare providers, rather than treating patient care as the sum of episodic office visits.

Each patient’s care at Memorial Physician Services is delivered by physician-led care teams that provide all health care needs and coordinate treatment across the health care system, Suchomski said. Medical home healthcare providers demonstrate the benchmarks of patient-centered care, including open scheduling, expanded hours and appropriate use of proven health information systems.

“The patient-centered medical home raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and partnerships between clinicians and patients,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA president. “PCMH 2011 recognition shows that Memorial Physician Services’ primary-care locations have the tools, systems and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time.”

Memorial Physician Services has eight primary-care clinics in Springfield, Chatham, Jacksonville, Lincoln and Petersburg. To achieve Level 3 recognition, a healthcare organization must successfully comply with six must-pass elements, such as access during office hours and referral tracking and follow-up.

NCQA is a private, nonprofit 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 is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.