Guthrie primary care patients will further benefit from Guthrie’s team-based approach to patient care as all 25 primary care practices transform into Patient Centered Medical Homes.
Dr. Frederick Bloom, president of Guthrie Medical Group commented on the transformation, “Guthrie is committed to designing its services with the patient in mind, and delivering the highest quality of tailored patient care in the region. By adopting the Patient Centered Medical Home Model, we will be building upon our excellent existing legacy of team-based care. Patients will now have more coordinated care, better access to primary and specialty care, and more help reaching their personal health goals.”
One feature of the Patient Centered Medical Homes model focuses on the individual needs of patients who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart failure. The model also supports patients to play an active role in managing their health through prevention of ill health, and also ensures patients have personalized care teams who coordinate their care. Guthrie has adopted the model as part of its ongoing commitment to ensure that that the patient is at the heart of all their services.
“Patient Centered Medical Homes are a critical part of Guthrie’s commitment to population health management in the communities we serve. This is an important initiative that will allow our primary care providers to treat patients with chronic diseases in a more effective and engaging way. Instead of treating patients only when they are sick, we will be supporting patients to manage their health to ensure longer, healthier lives.”
Guthrie is currently pursuing National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation for Patient Centered Medical Home, and anticipates a full transformation of the system by May 2015. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. It accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians and physician groups in key clinical areas.
Guthrie is a non-profit integrated health system located in north central Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, serving patients from an 11-county service area. Guthrie is comprised of a research institute, home care/hospice, hospitals in Sayre, Pa., Corning, N.Y. and Troy, Pa., as well as a multi-specialty group practice of more than 290 physicians and 155 mid-level providers in a regional office network encompassing sub-specialty and primary care sites in 23 communities throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Guthrie offers a wide range of services and programs designed to enhance the health and wellbeing of those it serves.
