Metro Health Neighborhood Outpatient Centers Receive Top Recognition from NCQA for Being Patient-Centered Medical Home
Physicians from Metro Health's neighborhood outpatient centers have received the highest recognition from the Physician Practice Connections - Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

WYOMING, MI, February 11, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Physicians from Metro Health's neighborhood outpatient centers have received the highest recognition from the Physician Practice Connections - Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

The physicians, who were previously recognized by NCQA for diabetes care and patient-centered medical home, received this new Level III recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered techniques that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term participative relationships with patients. Metro's early lead in the use of electronic medical records as a method of better coordinating care was central to the new, higher level of recognition, which lasts for three years.

Family practice and internal medicine physicians at these Metro Health sites have earned NCQA PPC-PCMH Level III recognition:

• Allendale
• Caledonia
• Cascade
• Cedar Springs
• Comstock Park
• Hudsonville
• Jenison
• Rockford
• Southwest
• Wayland

The patient-centered medical home is a model for care that promotes partnerships between individual patients and their personal physician by replacing episodic care based on illnesses with a more comprehensive approach to wellness and treatment. In this model, each patient's care is managed by a physician-led care team, which provides for all health-care needs and coordinates treatment across the health care system.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized by NCQA for the exemplary care our physicians provide," said Mike Faas, president and CEO of Metro Health. "We were an early leader in West Michigan in the team approach to the care and treatment of diabetes, and now all patients can benefit from the kind of coordinated care that benefits patients with chronic illness.

"We are also gratified that NCQA acknowledged the role that the EMR has played in Metro reaching this level of recognition. Again, our leadership in this area demonstrates our commitment to providing the best patient experience possible."

To receive recognition, Metro Health neighborhood outpatient centers demonstrated that they met key program measures in several critical areas, including responsive care management techniques with an emphasis on prevention, adaptation to cultural and linguistic needs, enhanced communication, appropriately using information technology and related measures.

About the NCQA
The National Committee for Quality Assurance is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system, helping to elevate the issue of health care quality to the top of the national agenda.

About Metro Health

Metro Health is a regional health-care organization with a 208-bed general acute care osteopathic teaching hospital and 12 neighborhood outpatient centers, serving more than 130,000 patients in Kent and surrounding counties. Metro, which earned status as a Top 100 Hospital for three consecutive years, offers a broad range of services, including hospital inpatient and outpatient services, emergency, surgery, intensive care and rehabilitation. Physician, therapy and diagnostic services are offered in its 12 neighborhood centers. Metro's work is supported by the Metro Health Hospital Foundation, which is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of the West Michigan community through philanthropy. For more information, visit www.metrohealth.net.

Press Release Contact Information:

Mary Ann Sabo
Sabo Public Relations
President
638 Winchell SE
Grand Rapids, MI
USA 49507
Voice: 6164851432
Website: Visit Our Website