CHCS clinics recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Home

Community HealthCare System clinics in six northeast Kansas locations were recently recognized as achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home status by the National Center for Quality Assurance, or NCQA. PCMH is a model of healthcare delivery focused on treating the whole patient through the lifespan.

“The PCMH designation means that our clinics are set up to offer a higher quality of care. When a patient visits, our care teams focus not just on one episode of care they are providing during an appointment, but on the overall health of the patient,” said Merica Surdez, CHCS chief of provider and clinic operations.

CHCS is one of 82 PCMH practices in the state. Only 10 practices in the state are recognized as a Level-3 PCMH facility, and six of those are CHCS clinics in Onaga, Frankfort, Holton, Centralia, Westmoreland, and St. Marys. The clinics were initially certified in 2017 and have pursued and achieved annual renewals since then.

According to Surdez, PCMH-certified facilities emphasize coordination and continuity across all types of care a patient might experience, including as a hospital inpatient, emergency department patient, clinic patient, or patient receiving outpatient tests or referrals.

“We aim to give a feeling of total care. In our day-to-day efforts, we focus on patient access, preventative care management, chronic care and medication management, and supporting patients in their efforts to care for themselves. We are also always tracking our performance and looking for ways to improve,” Surdez said.

The rigorous annual PCMH review and certification process includes working with advisory council members in all locations and striving to provide preventative education and resources that promote physical and mental health in northeast Kansas.

“The extra time and effort that PCMH requires is well worth it, because it helps us meet our mission, which is to enrich the health and lives of the people we serve. Providing a Patient-Centered Medical Home that treats the whole person is truly enriching,” said CEO Todd Willert.

Willert said the PCMH approach requires a comprehensive view of health that includes community engagement.

“We’re proud of our many collaborations with local health departments, Chambers of Commerce, schools, and other organizations that help us better understand our communities and their needs. That helps us provide better care for all,” Willert said.