Franklin Health Internal Medicine earns national recognition for patient-centered care

FARMINGTON – The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announces that Franklin Health Internal Medicine in Farmington has received recognition from the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) 2011 (PCMH 2011) program for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term participative relationships. The practice received Level 1 status.

The PCMH model designates a primary nurse-provider team that coordinates patient care across a continuum of settings ranging from the primary care office to specialty clinics to inpatient areas. Care is facilitated by registries, information technology, health information exchange, and other means to assure that patients receive the indicated care when and where they need it, and communicated in a way that they understand.

The PCMH model demonstrates the benchmarks of patient-centered care, including same day appointments as needed, expanded hours, 24/7 access to a provider, and appropriate use of proven health information systems. According to the NCQA, research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and improve patients’ and providers’ reported experiences of care.

“The patient-centered medical home raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and partnerships between clinicians and patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. PCMH Recognition shows that Franklin Health Internal Medicine has the tools, systems and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time.”

To receive recognition, which is valid for three years, the internal medicine practice demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements embodying characteristics of the medical home. The standards are aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

Franklin Health Internal Medicine met key program components in the following areas:

• Written standards for patient access and continuity of care

• Use of patient feedback materials

• Appropriate use of charting tools to track patients and organize clinical information

• Responsive care management techniques with an emphasis on preventive care for individual patients and for the entire patient population

• Adaptation to patient’s cultural and linguistic needs

• Use of information technology for prescriptions, test and referral tracking and coordination with other health care providers

• Use of evidence-based guidelines to treat chronic conditions

• Measurement and reporting of clinical and service performance

“There are three levels of NCQA PCMH recognition and each level reflects the degree to which a practice meets the requirements that comprise the standards,” said Mavis Dubord, Franklin Health director of clinical and administrative services. “We are very proud of all the work that our internal medicine clinicians and staff did, along with information technology staff who worked behind the scenes in achieving this first step of recognition. This achievement demonstrates their level of commitment and excellence to our patients.”

Franklin Health Internal Medicine offers a full range of adult medicine services from routine physicals to managing complex medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Its providers, which include Stephen Goss, DO; Stacy Hershfeld, DO; Robert O’Reilly, DO; and Beth Hartsock, ANP, FNP; provide 24/7 call coverage for their patients at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Internal Medicine offices are conveniently located on the first floor of the Mt. Blue Health Center in Farmington, located on the Franklin Memorial Hospital campus. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Franklin Health Internal Medicine at 778-4922.