Five Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Sites Receive Highest Level of Recognition from National Nonprofit Organization- 1/6/12

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a private, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations, has recognized all five of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians? (JHCP) sites that applied for Patient-Centered Medical Home program recognition.? JHCP facilities in Canton Crossing, Hagerstown, Montgomery, Water?s Edge and the Wyman Park Internal Medicine offices were acknowledged for excellent patient-centered care and for achieving high marks in the program.

According to the NCQA ?the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model that emphasizes care and communication to transfer primary care into ?what patients want it to be.?? Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and improve patients? and providers? experiences of care.?

The five JHCP locations met strenuous criteria in six must-pass categories, such as effective communication among patients and caregivers, superior use of technology and data, and exceptional teamwork. As part of the examination, each of the centers were measured on a scale of 100 points and required to achieve 85 points or more to receive the highest designation: PCMH Level 3.? The testing process covers 27 total elements, six of which are must-pass categories, and a 50 percent or higher score is required in each must-pass element to move on to the next.

Water?s Edge, Hagerstown and Montgomery received 98.75, 95.75 and 94.75 points respectively while Canton Crossing and Wyman Park each achieved a score of 97.75, with all sites securing NCQA?s premiere designation of Level 3 status.? ?The new 2011 PCMH standards were more challenging to achieve.? The application process is arduous and we are very proud to have received this recognition,? says Steven J. Kravet, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P., president of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians.? ?I want to congratulate the directors and the entire staff at each of our offices for their hard work on making this possible.?

JHCP offices at Canton Crossing, Wyman Park and Water?s Edge had previously been recognized at Level 3 under the old criteria. The five JHCP locations are part of the state of Maryland Multi-Payor Pilot Program in patient-centered medical home.? The five centers together provided care for approximately 60,000 patients over the past 3 years.

Source: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/five_johns_hopkins_community_physicians_sites_receive_highest_level_of_recognition_from_national_nonprofit_organization

frank mccourt ricin in god we trust damian mcginty tj houshmandzadeh tj houshmandzadeh san onofre