National behavioral health distinction
highlights success of whole-person care model
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Providence Family Medicine Center (PFMC) has received the Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The center earned the recognition through its commitment to provide comprehensive whole-person care that acknowledges the behavioral health needs of the individual.
According to NCQA, this means behavioral health care is integrated with primary care, with a care team focused on addressing the behavioral health needs of patients. Integrating behavioral health into primary care can improve access, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
“This distinction is a credit to our caregivers and our commitment to providing the best care possible to the people we serve,” said Tamara Brown, chief financial officer and interim chief executive officer, Providence Medical Group. “Whole-person care is at the core of everything we do and is important in ensuring our patients get the care they need now and everything they need for long-term health and wellness.”
This distinction is in addition to PFMC’s Level 3 certification as a Patient-Centered Medical Home from NCQA, which recognizes treatment centers for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships.
NCQA Patient-Centered 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, as well as improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.
According to NCQA, the recognition program is the most widely adopted PCMH evaluation program in the country and is a model of care that puts patients at the forefront. More than 12,000 practices (with more than 60,000 clinicians) are recognized by NCQA.
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About Providence Family Medicine Center
Providence Family Medicine Center, a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home, is an integrated (primary care and behavioral health) clinic providing patient-centered support and services for all patients (pre-natal through end-of-life) and across all health care venues – inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and in-home care, including homeless shelters and assisted living homes. For more information about PFMC, visit alaska.providence.org/locations/f/providence-family-medicine-center.
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’s Web site (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.
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