Meridian Health Recognized for its Patient Centered Medical Home Program

Meridian’s Monmouth Family Medicine Group in Ocean Township, NJ, and Ocean Family Care in Point Pleasant, have been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH).

The NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication, and patient involvement. Nicola DiGuglielmo, M.D., and Jennifer Reimer, D.O., in conjunction with their practice staffs, and Meridian’s physician enterprise support team, worked diligently to implement new processes and provide the necessary data to NCQA to receive this recognition.

Several of the processes implemented as part of achieving NCQA Patient Centered Home Recognition were:

·         Improved clinical outcomes such as blood pressure control and diabetic blood sugar control

·         Contacted patients who missed important preventative screenings like mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings

·         Instituted pre-visit planning to fully address all of the patients needs during their visit

·         Implemented awareness campaigns in the practice to inform patients about the importance of preventive care.

“The NCQA PCMH recognition is indicative of the effort and focus Meridian is placing on new innovative population health models of care,” shares Richard Scott, M.D., senior vice president Clinical Effectiveness at Meridian Health.  

“The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of 21st century primary care that combines access, teamwork and technology to deliver quality care and improve health”, said NCQA president Margaret E. O’Kane. “NCQA’s PCMH 2011Recognition shows that Dr.’s DiGuglielmo and Gumina have tools, systems and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time.”

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 program reflects the input of the American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and others in extension of the Physician Practice Connections Program.

“Monmouth Family Medicine Group and Ocean Family Care are the first of many practices we hope to have recognized by NCQA in the coming year,” says Frank Goldstein, vice president of Physicians Services Meridian Health, Meridian’s physician enterprise.  “PCMH will be our new standard of care for primary care physician practices at Meridian Practice Institute.”

About Meridian Health

Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers. Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, is one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for five years in a row, and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence.  Meridian Practice Institute (MPI) is the physician/provider organization of Meridian Health that includes community-based Primary Care and Specialty physicians, as well as the Jersey Shore University Medical Center faculty physicians.  Comprised of more than 250 physicians/providers in Monmouth and Ocean counties, MPI’s physicians care for patients at approximately 70 locations allowing care to be close to home. 

For more information, please visit www.MeridianHealth.com.

About National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.