EBNHC Receives Highest Level Recognition from NCQA
May 21, 2013, East Boston, MA—The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) announced today the health center’s receipt of the highest level of recognition for its Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Program from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA awarded EBNHC a Level 3 distinction, indicating that the health center met NCQA’s highest standards, which emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication, and patient involvement.
“We’re thrilled to achieve this outstanding accomplishment that reinforces the high quality of care we provide to our patients,” said Manny Lopes, EBNHC CEO. “Our PCMH Program enhances the partnership between patients and providers, while encouraging patients to be active participants in their own health care. This recognition is a testament to the efforts of our staff and providers to transform clinical care and ensure the best outcomes for all.”
In EBNHC’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Program, primary care physicians coordinate patients’ health care needs, including visits to specialty providers, hospital admissions, reminders for necessary tests and follow-up, and the electronic submission of prescriptions directly to the pharmacy. This model promotes better coordination and collaboration between health care providers, and uses health information technology to monitor, evaluate, and manage care. The Patient-Centered Medical Home Program is also used to coordinate and manage care for patients with chronic diseases and complex medical needs.
The concept of a Medical Home is one of the key underpinnings of federal health reform, as coordinated care generally leads to higher-quality, focused , and more cost-effective care.
“The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of 21st century primary care that combines access, teamwork, and technology to deliver quality care and improve health,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “NCQA’s PCMH 2013 Recognition shows that the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center has tools, systems, and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time.”
EBNHC initiated a Patient-Centered Medical Home Program in 2010, after being selected by the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services as one of 46 primary care practices across the Commonwealth to participate in the Patient-Centered Medical Home Initiative. The Patient-Centered Medical Home model aims to improve the quality and efficiency of primary care and to reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. The overarching goal of the PCMH model at EBNHC is to ensure that patients receive the comprehensive care they need.
The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center has been a vital part of the community for more than 40 years, providing easily accessible, high-quality health care to all who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Winthrop. EBNHC handles 300,000 patient visits per year—more than any other ambulatory care center in New England.
