Saint Luke’s Medical Group awarded Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 Level 3 Recognition

Saint Luke’s Medical Group’s 11 primary care practices have recently been awarded the Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 Level 3 Recognition—the highest level bestowed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Only one out of four physicians groups nationwide has achieved NCQA Level I, Level 2, or Level 3 recognition.

Patients of primary care doctors who participate in Patient-Centered Medical Home report faster access to their doctors, better outcomes for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and higher satisfaction.

Patient-Centered Medical Home is health care based on personal relationships. With Saint Luke’s Medical Group physicians, patients have a home where a single, trusted doctor and health team will coordinate all their medical care.

“The Patient-Centered Medical Home model lets physicians track and coordinate care among all your health providers while simultaneously letting us measure and improve our performance to optimize outcomes,” says Michael Munger, M.D., Medical Director of Saint Luke’s Medical Group. “At the end of the day, it comes down to your good health, getting the right care you need at the right time.”

Hospitalized patients and those with chronic health conditions will benefit from the added Care Coordinator role. This nurse will personally follow up with hospital doctors or specialists and the primary care physician to help successfully manage a patient’s long-term care plan.

“The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of 21st century primary care that combines access, teamwork, and technology to deliver quality care and improve health,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “NCQA’s PCMH 2011 Recognition shows that Saint Luke’s Medical Group has tools, systems, and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time.”

A growing number of insurance providers offer incentives for policy holders who see primary care physicians recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.