AIH&S earns National Recognition for Patient Centered Care
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) on September 10, 2014, announced that American Indian Health & Services of Santa Barbara, has received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships. American Indian Health & Services (AIH&S) is the first organization in Santa Barbara County to receive Level 3 PCMH recognition from NCQA and is also a member of the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health.
For 20 years, AIH&S has been committed to empowering the Santa Barbara community by delivering accessible, socially responsive, and culturally appropriate health care. Their medical department consists of seven providers offering services in pediatrics, endocrinology, family practice, and care coordination. Their dental clinic has four operatories, which are home to three dentists and one registered dental hygienist offering preventative and restorative care for adults and children. The behavioral health department consists of two licensed clinical social workers providing individual and group counseling and case management. CCUIH is very proud of their achievement of Level 3 PCMH recognition through NCQA.
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that American Indian Health & Services has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”
To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, American Indian Health & Services demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards 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.
To find clinicians and their practices with NCQA PCMH Recognition, visit http://recognition.ncqa.org.
About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.
The California Consortium for Urban Indian Health is pleased to work with The California Endowment to raise public awareness about the importance of prevention through the “Health Happens with Prevention” campaign.