NCQA recognizes St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group as PPC-PCMH

St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group (SJHMG) has been recognized as a Physician Practice Connections® -- Patient-Centered Medical Home™ (PPC®-PCMH™) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The medical group joins an elite group of physicians recognized by NCQA for preventative care and chronic disease management.

"St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group has always strived to create a 'medical home' for the community we serve," said Charles Foster, vice president, administrator, St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group. "We are honored to accept this prestigious NCQA distinction."

SJHMG earned the distinction by meeting the Physician Practice Connection's recognition status, emphasizing excellence in the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care management processes. The physician-led care team is responsible for providing all the patient's health care needs and, when needed, coordinating care across the health care system. The medical home emphasizes enhanced care through open scheduling, expanded hours and communication between patients, physicians and staff. Quality and safety are also hallmarks of this patient care model.

"The Patient-Centered Medical Home has the potential to change the interaction between patients and physicians from a series of episodic office visits to an ongoing two-way relationship," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "Patients can no longer be silent partners in their care -- they are active participants in managing their health with a shared goal of staying as healthy as possible."

The concept of the medical home was introduced in 1967 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The objective was to have a central location for archiving a child's medical record. In 2002, the concept grew to include operational issues, accessibility, and continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate and culturally effective care. In 2004 the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) developed principles that are used by the NCQA today.