We are very happy to share that Fenway has once again successfully renewed our NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for our location at 1340 Boylston Street in Boston as well as our Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration.
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA is governed by a Board of Directors that includes employers, consumers, health plans, quality experts, and representatives from organized medicine. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90 percent of the nation’s health plans.
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home program reflects the input of the American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and others. It was developed to assess whether clinician practices are functioning as medical homes and recognize them for these efforts. The NCQA PCMH standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Fenway Health has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”
Primary care practices that earn NCQA’s Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration have put the right resources, evidence-based protocols, standardized tools and quality measures in place to support the broad needs of patients with behavioral health conditions. PCMH Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration distinguishes practices that provide integrated behavioral healthcare and services as a part of a patient-centered medical home.
PCMH Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration helps practices provide comprehensive whole person care that acknowledges the behavioral health needs of the individual beyond the core requirements of NCQA PCMH Recognition. These practices have proven that they have the appropriate care team in place to manage the broad needs of patients with conditions related to behavioral health.
“Many times behavioral health conditions are first identified by a primary care provider,” said O’Kane. “So adding behavioral health care services in a primary care setting is a real opportunity for patients. It knocks down barriers to behavioral care and improves overall health.”
This status acknowledges the efforts our care team staff make every day to provide patient centered, integrated, evidence-based care with a constant eye for improvement.