FORT LEE, Va. (March 23, 2017) -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance has recertified Kenner Army Health Clinic as a Level 2 Patient-Centered Medical Home.
NCQA certification recognizes a medical facility's ability to enhance access to care, maintain beneficiary continuity with provider teams, keep track of patient data to help manage their well-being, 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 an effort to measure performance and patient feedback to continue improving the quality of care.
"I could not be more proud of the Kenner team for earning NCQA recognition," said Lt. Col. Brett H. Venable, KAHC commander, "This achievement is a direct reflection of our staff's commitment to providing high quality, patient-centered services to our beneficiaries."
Army Medical Homes focus on creating partnerships between patients and their clinicians who coordinate a treatment plan rather than rely on episodic office visits. The clinic received the renewal for its continued use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes focusing on highly coordinated care and long-term relationships.
"We are a clinic within the Army Medical Home, and I am proud to be part of an outstanding team that is constantly striving to provide the safest and most comprehensive care to beneficiaries," said Kim Schoen, Family Medicine Clinic nurse manager. "Achieving this recognition is certainly an honor and a testament to the commitment of the clinic leadership."
Since its founding in 1990, the NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system. As part of the recognition process, NCQA reviewed hundreds of documents submitted by the KAHC staff that provided fact-based evidence showing how the clinic was conducting business as a true Medical Home.
"Kenner Army Health Clinic is dedicated to being a high reliability organization, bringing high quality, compassionate care to its beneficiaries," said Maj. Daniel Cash, deputy commander for clinical services. "NCQA certification recognizes organizations that are truly doing an outstanding job, and I am proud of all our health care workers who helped us achieve this certification."
The following are what patients can expect from the KAHC Medical Home:
• 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.
• 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 health care 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.
Army Medicine's goal is to have all of its primary care facilities in the United States and overseas achieve NCQA recognition and transform to the PCMH model of care. The transition is part of Army Medicine's overall shift from a health care system to a system for health.
The NCQA renewal is valid for three years.
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