Three Guthrie primary care practices have achieved a Level 3 of National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognition as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH).
Guthrie Ithaca, Guthrie Wellsboro, and Guthrie Corning Family Medicine were all awarded the highest-level recognition following their recent application for NCQA recognition. They are the first three practices in the health care system to receive this recognition, with a further 22 practices expecting to hear over the coming weeks.
Dr. Frederick Bloom, President of Guthrie Medical Group said, “This recognition acknowledges Guthrie’s commitment to design care with the patient in mind, and deliver the highest quality of patient care in the region. By adopting the Patient Centered Medical Home model, we will be building upon our legacy of physician-directed care that has the patient at the heart of all our services.”
PCMH is a team-based approach to care, led by the primary care physician. The patient-care team also includes specialists, educators, dieticians, and care coordinators as needed to support the patient. Instead of treating patients only when they are sick, the goal is to prevent illness and injury and to manage chronic disease to avoid complications.
Dr. Bloom stated, “Health care has undergone a number of changes over the last several years, and we anticipate that there will be more in the years ahead. Transforming our primary care offices into patient centered medical homes will allow us to work together as a team in partnership with our patients to prevent disease and deliver excellent clinical care. Our goal is to support our patients to manage their health to ensure longer, healthier lives.”
PCMH benefits from the use of an advanced and fully deployed electronic medical record to help identify opportunities to better support the patient’s health and manage chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension. Guthrie has a system-wide electronic medical record that will also help patients play an active role in managing their health through online access to their own medical information through eGuthrie.
Guthrie has been transforming all 25 of its primary care practices into Patient Centered Medical Homes and is currently pursuing NCQA recognition for PCMH for all of its practices. 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.
