Pacific Regional Medical Command (PRMC) reaches 100 percent national recognition for its Army Medical Homes as of Oct. 23, 2014.
All 14 Army Medical Homes under PRMC have been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Army Patient Centered Medical Homes.
"Achieving 100% Army Medical Home implementation is a wonderful achievement for the Pacific Region. It demonstrates Army Medicine's commitment to providing for our Soldiers, their families and our other beneficiaries with the best primary care available," stated PRMC's Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent. "Our challenge now is to strengthen this key component of our system for health and emphasize preventative and proactive care to keep our patients healthier, happier and more active in their daily lives."
The NCQA measures the ability of medical facilities to provide quality healthcare through standardized, objective measurement guidelines.
As part of the recognition process, NCQA reviewed hundreds of documents submitted by the PRMC Medical Homes staff that provided fact-based evidence that showed all clinics were conducting business as true Medical Homes.
NCQA requires recognized facilities to enhance access to care and patients' continuity with their provider teams, keep track of patient data to help manage patients' wellbeing, plan and manage care using evidence-based practices, provide self-care support and community resources, as well as track and coordinate tests, referrals and other care for patients.
Finally, clinics have to show that they measure their performance and patients' feedback to continue improving the quality of care.
The PRMC Army Medical Homes span the geographic areas of Hawaii, Korea, and Japan.
Col. Julie Tullberg, Pediatrician at TAMC says she is excited to continue the PCMH model of care, knowing that it brings major improvements for patients in Hawaii. "We expect that they will see and appreciate the differences in their care. As they get to know their Primary Care manager and team members, we know they are getting safer, more comprehensive, and more prevention focused care from their health care team," said Tullberg.
Col. Mark Reeves, Commander, 121st CSH/Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital in Seoul, Korea and Family Medicine Consultant to The Surgeon General, says he is extremely proud of the commitment, passion, coordination, and teamwork it took for all six of the Korea-based Medical Homes to meet the standards set forth by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and Army Medicine.
"It has been a tremendous effort which has sharpened our focus on our patients' needs and experience of care and made us more effective as a patient centered team. We fully expect Soldiers will be more ready to 'fight tonight' and their Families will be healthier and fully involved in their life space as a direct result of the improvements inherent in team based, patient centered care. This will be a foundation for Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) contribution to the Performance Triad," he said.
Lt. Col. Philip Ginder, Deputy Commander for Administration at BG Crawford F. Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic, Camp Zama, Japan says PCMH has greatly enhanced their ability to improve the overall health of Soldiers and their families.
"PCMH has given our patients new resources to take charge of their health. Through Secure Messaging, an online information exchange, patients can now more easily communicate with their provider. With the tools on Tricare Online, patients make appointments at their convenience, request refills, check lab results, and other parts of their health record."
Here's what patients can expect from the PRMC Medical Homes:
• A personal provider. Each patient has an ongoing relationship with a personal Physician, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner who is trained to provide first contact, continuous and comprehensive care.
• Physician directed medical practice. The personal physician leads a team of individuals at the practice level who collectively take responsibility for ongoing patient care.
• Whole person orientation. The personal provider is responsible for providing all of the patient's health care needs or for arranging care with other qualified professionals.
• Coordinated and Integrated Care. Each patient's care is coordinated and integrated across all elements of the health care system and the patient's community.
• Quality and Safety focus: All members of the healthcare team are focused on ensuring high quality care in the medical home.
• Improved access: In the PCMH, enhanced access to care options are available through open scheduling, same day appointments, secure messaging, and other innovative options for communication between patients, their personal physician and practice staff.
The transition to the PCMH model of care is part of Army Medicine's overall shift from a health care system to a system for health.
The NCQA is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.
Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving health improvement throughout the healthcare system.
About PRMC
PRMC's mission is to orchestrate the delivery of world-class medical care for service members, families, and eligible beneficiaries, as well as to provide medical readiness and diplomacy in support of U.S. Army Pacific in the United States Pacific Command Area of Responsibility.
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