Falls Community Health Recognized for Quality Improvement and Patient Satisfaction

Oct 02, 2015

Falls Community Health has received a Health Center Quality Improvement grant award in the amount of $18,478 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The clinic, which is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), received a Clinical Quality Improvers award, meaning Falls Community Health showed improvement in one or more clinical quality measures between 2013 and 2014, demonstrating a significant improvement to patients’ health.

At Falls Community Health, weight assessment and counseling for children improved from 19 percent to 44 percent. The goal was 37 percent. Adult weight screening and follow-up had a goal of 44 percent, and the clinic improved from 35 percent to 63 percent.

“The award from HRSA identifies health centers that are achieving the highest levels of clinical quality performance and improvement,” said the City’s Public Health Director Jill Franken, “and we couldn’t be more proud to be included. These funds will be directed back into our work of providing comprehensive primary care in our community.”

In addition to improving the quality of the primary care services they provide, Falls Community Health is also committed to excellence in the way staff interact with patients. These efforts are reflected in the high marks the clinic received in its recent patient satisfaction survey.

The clinic distributed the survey to all patients who came to the clinic until they reached a statistically significant sample. The clinic received 422 completed surveys, and the results indicated that 99 percent of patients would refer others to Falls Community Health. This question on the patient survey is the overarching measure Falls Community Health follows each year to track patient satisfaction.

Early in 2015, Falls Community Health received Level III Recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, a designation indicating how the clinic meets high standards for coordinated care and patient-centered service.

“Being a patient-centered medical home means that our patients are ensured comprehensive and coordinated access to medical care,” said Franken. “To the community, it brands Falls Community Health as a provider of high-quality health care, not just less expensive health care. And as an organization, it means we continue to challenge ourselves to higher levels of achievement.”

Falls Community Health accepts patients with all coverage options, including Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and no insurance. Discounts are also available through a sliding fee scale program for those who qualify. For medical appointments, call 605-367-8793, and for dental appointments, call 605-367-8022.