Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) in Northern New Jersey
When investigating their options for healthcare, patients want to know a practice is committed to delivering personalized, compassionate care. How can patients determine the quality of care they will receive? One way is to identify if the practice is recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Bergen Medical Associates is proud to be recognized as a PCMH for delivering patient-centered care to families across Northern New Jersey. Learn more about what constitutes a PCMH and the benefits this designation indicates.
What Is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?
According to NCQA, a PCMH is a practice that follows a “model of care that puts patients at the forefront of care”. These facilities operate by giving each patient a physician who oversees and organizes many aspects of patient care, such as creating the right healthcare team. NCQA identifies six concept areas that encapsulate what it means to be a PCMH. These include:
- Team-Based Care and Practice Organization: Refers to the practice’s leadership, the responsibilities of the care team, and the approach to partnering with patients, caregivers, and family members
- Knowing and Managing Your Patients: Provides standards for collecting patient data, reconciling medicine, and making evidence-based decisions
- Patient-Centered Access and Continuity: Enables practices to provide convenient advice and deliver a continuity of care
- Care Management and Support: Creates care management procedures to establish which patients require more closely managed care
- Care Coordination and Care Transitions: Verifies all clinicians, from primary care practitioners to specialists, share information and manage referrals effectively to reduce cost and complexity
- Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement: Guides practices in developing techniques for measuring and enhancing performance
As mentioned, Bergen Medical Associates has been recognized as a PCMH by NCQA. This means we are certified and established as following a PCMH model of care. How does Bergen Medical Associates achieve this distinction?
It starts with the team. The team of skilled clinicians takes patient care seriously, adhering to their values, cultures, and religions. This ensures that the patient care experience is positive for both patients and their families. Another key aspect of the PCMH model of care is efficient communication between the medical team, the patient, and their family.
Bergen Medical Associates cares for patients at every stage of health and illness, beginning with preventative care. By partnering with health systems to meet patient needs, the medical team can provide team-based, cost-effective care and treatment when illness arises.
Benefits of PCMH Recognition
Being recognized as a PCMH is not only a meaningful honor for the practice. It has significant implications for patients, as well. The following are several advantages of seeking care from a PCMH-recognized facility:
Receive Healthcare at One Location
Bergen Medical Associates specializes in a variety of healthcare fields, making it easier for patients to get the care they need. Specialties include:
- Allergy and immunology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Gynecology
- Hospital Care
- Internal Medicine
- Nutrition
- Physiatry
- Podiatry
- Rheumatology
- Sports Medicine
- Urology
- Weight Management
Having multiple specialties offers convenience when it comes to having various tests completed at the same location. This means patients will not have to travel to other facilities to conduct certain tests and medical procedures. They can have it conveniently done right at Bergen Medical Associates, relieving the stress and anxieties associated with traveling to and scheduling doctor appointments.
Patient Needs Are Met
At Bergen Medical Associates, patients experience compassion and respect during their medical care. This allows patient needs to be met and ensures each patient receives the right care, no matter their diagnosis.
Since Bergen Medical Associates specializes in many medical fields, it offers services not only for preventive care but also to care for those with chronic illnesses. In addition, the healthcare team ensures that patients are safe. So, if an emergency arises, loved ones are surrounded by a medical team with extensive experience in the field.
Create Relationships with Doctors and Families
Effective communication is essential for delivering patient-centered medical care. The healthcare team at Bergen Medical Associates assures that patients and their families are updated on medical changes and procedures in a timely fashion. This keeps everyone up-to-date on care practices and measures.
The team collaborates with patients, families, and medical professionals with transparency, even providing flexible scheduling and extended office hours. This allows family members to visit and call when it is most convenient for them.
Advanced Technology
Bergen Medical Associates has access to the most advanced technology available. Not only does this help deliver effective care to patients, but it also allows the team to work better with families, patients, and other medical providers. The secure patient record system keeps patient information safe and is easily accessible to physicians. Bergen Medical Associates also has a patient portal where patients and their families can access important medical information.
Cost-Effective Healthcare Solutions
The PCMH model of care can potentially save medical costs for families and patients. Because patient-centered medical care focuses on prevention and consistent treatment, less money is spent on trips to the emergency room and urgent visits to physicians. It can also avoid trips to hospital facilities, which can become expensive when receiving long-term care.
Patient-Centered Care at Bergen Medical Associates
When patients take a proactive role in their healthcare, the patient experience improves. For families and patients across Northern New Jersey, Bergen Medical Associates is here to help. To learn more about our PCMH-recognized practice, contact us today.