Clinic earns Patient-Centered Medical Home accreditation
The primary-care clinic operated by EVMS Internal Medicine has earned recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The clinic earned the highest accreditation at Level 3.
Research has demonstrated that designation as a PCMH can lead to lower costs, improved patient experience and better health outcomes. Only one in six physicians is associated with a NCQA-certified medical practice. NCQA is a private, not-for-profit organization that offers the most widely adopted PCMH evaluation program in the country.
Jennifer Ryal, MD, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, led the effort to earn certification. Other physicians affiliated with the clinic are Jennifer Knips, MD; Sami Tahhan, MD; Jody Boggs, MD; Benjamin Goodman, MD; Thomas Manser, MD; James Dixon, MD; Mark Flemmer, MD; and Kathleen McEntee, MD.
“This represents a tremendous effort by Dr. Ryal and her team to obtain this designation of quality care,” says Jerry Nadler, MD, the Harry H. Mansbach Chair in Internal Medicine, Vice Dean of Research, and Professor and Chair of Internal Medicine. “Level 3 PCMH represents our dedication to high quality and patient-centered care we provide in the Internal Medicine, Primary Care Clinic.”
EVMS has primary care practices in internal and family medicine. In both departments, the physicians care for patients in the hospital and in the office. This is unusual anymore in the larger towns, says James Dixon, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine. Dr. Ryal worked with her colleagues in family medicine to complete this "very challenging certification process."
"It is a testimony to Dr. Ryal's focus on patients, commitment to developing a highly functioning office in which students and residents can train, and leadership skills that she was able to achieve this," Dr. Dixon says.
Health plans in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are accredited by NCQA. These plans cover 109 million Americans or 70.5 percent of all Americans enrolled in health plans.