TRH Practices Recognized for Patient-Centered Medical Home Model

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

The Family Health Care Center, RPS Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine Associates of Birdsboro, have been recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term participative relationships.

The Family Health Care Center is a Hospital-based practice, RPS Internal Medicine is part of Reading Professional Services, and Birdsboro Family Medicine is a member of The Reading Hospital Medical Group.  All three practices fall under The Reading Hospital (TRH) system.

The Physician Practice Connections – Patient-Centered Medical Home program of NCQA is a model of health care delivery that strives to improve the quality and efficiency of care.  The three TRH practices have been identified for promoting partnerships between individual patients and clinicians promoting a unique, but highly effective method of delivering care.  Clinician-lead care teams provide for all patient needs and also coordinate additional treatment throughout the system. 

Medical home clinicians utilize open scheduling, expanded hours, and use of proven health information systems.

Valid for three years, the recognition demonstrates a practice’s ability to meet standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Osteopathic Association.

The Family Health Care Center, RPS Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine Associates of Birdsboro met key program initiatives in the following areas:

• Written standards for patient access and enhanced communications
• Appropriate use of charting tools to track patients and organize clinical information
• Responsive care management techniques with an emphasis on preventive care
• Adaptation to patient’s cultural and linguistic needs
• Use of information technology for prescriptions and care management
• Use of evidence-based guidelines to treat chronic conditions
• Systematic tracking of referrals and test results
• Measurement and reporting of clinical and service performance

Please visit www.readinghospital.org to learn more about the physicians in these practices.