Falls Community Health Receives National Recognition
Jan 22, 2015
Falls Community Health has received Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Falls Community Health is one of only four medical organizations in the state to receive this recognition.
Dr. Mary Wakefield, administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), was in Sioux Falls to recognize the health center's accomplishment.
"It's a remarkable achievement," said Dr. Wakefield, who is the nation's top nurse. "This health center ensures residents in Sioux Falls have access to high quality health care."
In addition to achieving this important designation for Falls Community Health, Dr. Wakefield also recognized the Sioux Falls Health Department for its outreach to the community such as services to the homeless at the Bishop Dudley Hospitality house, through school-based clinics at Hayward, Hawthorne and Terry Redline elementary schools and through Live Well Sioux Falls.
Patient-Centered Medical Home recognized organizations like Falls Community Health are committed to six core standards in health care deliver:
1. Patient-centered access to appointments and clinical advice
2. Team-based care
3. Population health management
4. Care management and support through evidence-based practices
5. Coordinated care
6. Performance measurement and quality improvement
These six standards are measured through more than 150 elements.
“The preparation for this recognition was a three-year project that involved every staff member of our medical clinic,” says Alicia Collura, Assistant Director of Public Health. “To reach this achievement, almost all of our operational and clinical workflows were impacted in some way. It was a great team effort.”
This recognition identifies Falls Community Health as a health care organization that puts the patient first.
“The staff, providers, and patients at Falls Community Health know that this is a great place to receive primary medical care. This recognition allows us to let the community know about that quality care as well,” Collura says.
Other benefits to the recognition include increased opportunities for quality improvement resources and financial incentives. The clinic has already received significant quality improvement incentive grants due to its Patient-Centered Medical Home and clinical quality activities.
