Baylor Family Medicine earns prestigious recognition
Baylor Family Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine has been
recognized for its efforts to improve quality and efficiency of care by
the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Physician Practice
Connections®- Patient-Centered Medical Home program.
The three Baylor Family Medicine clinics were recognized because of
their efforts for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that
focus on highly coordinated care and long-term relationships between
doctor and patient. Rather than just treating patients, doctors and
staff work to coordinate care that supports prevention, health and
healing.
“Evolving primary care practices into true Patient Centered Medical
Homes is a long journey in continuous quality improvement for patients.
The Committee’s designation shows that we have the tools, systems, and
resources to provide our patients with the right care at the right
time,” said Dr. Stephen Spann, professor and chair of Family and
Community Medicine at BCM.
Practices given this recognition demonstrate the benchmarks of patient
centered care, including open scheduling, expanded hours and appropriate
use of health information systems which include the use of an electronic
medical record, coordinated treatments across various specialists and
healthcare systems, e-prescribing and an internet patient portal.
Nationwide, early evaluations of the program have shown promising
results in improving overall care quality and lowering costs by
increasing access to more efficient, more coordinated care. By avoiding
unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, these early
results are producing savings for payers, purchasers, and patients.
The key program components include: responsive care management,
emphasizing preventive care, enhanced communications with patients and
evidence-based guidelines for treatment of chronic conditions, use of
information technology for prescriptions and care management, adaptation
to patient’s cultural and linguistic needs, systematic tracking of
referrals and test results, and measurement and reporting of clinical
and service performance.
To receive this recognition, which is valid for three years, Baylor
Family Medicine had to meet the program’s key elements. These standards
are established in conjunction with the American College of Physicians,
the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of
Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.
