WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today announced that HealthPoint Medical Group of Tampa, FL is the first practice to receive NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) Recognition. HealthPoint Medical Group, an oncology/hematology practice, earned level three PCSP recognition, the highest possible level.
NCQA PCSP Recognition distinguishes practices outside of primary care for their responsiveness to patients and medical colleagues, cooperation and integration with other health care groups, and dedication to continuous improvement.
Earning recognition shows that HealthPoint Medical Group has undergone a rigorous review of its capabilities and is committed to communication, coordination and providing access to care. Recognition also signals to primary care practices that HealthPoint Medical Group is ready to be an effective partner in caring for patients they have in common.
HealthPoint Medical Group is a large multi-specialty physician group with over 180 providers in the Tampa Bay area. HealthPoint’s primary care practices are also recognized as PCMH Level 3. HealthPoint is a part of the BayCare Health System, one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the state of Florida.
“We are pleased to be the first specialty practice in the country to achieve NCQA level three recognition. This represents our commitment to expand our patient centered care model and our goal of continuous improvement. The requirements and guidance from NCQA have been invaluable in not only obtaining this recognition but also for our care process redesign,” said Dr. Lee Kirkman, HealthPoint President and Chief Medical Officer, BayCare Medical Group.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition highlights practices that collaborate in ways that patients want and that improve quality,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “I commend HealthPoint Medical Group for pioneering this achievement, and for its commitment to continuous improvement.”
NCQA PCSP Recognition is voluntary and shows that HealthPoint Medical Group met or exceeded national standards for:
- Communicating with primary care clinicians to exchange key information and establish coordinated care plans.
- Providing timely access to care and clinical advice based on patient need.
- Using a systematic approach to track referrals and coordinate care.
- Measuring and improving performance over time.
PCSP recognition is modeled on and complements NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition program, the most widely adopted medical home model in the country. A medical home is a way of organizing primary care that uses teamwork and technology to improve quality, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. PCSP recognition distinguishes the “neighbors” in medical specialties that surround and inform the medical home and colleagues in primary care.
For further information, check out www.ncqa.org/pcsp.aspx.
ABOUT 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’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s Web site (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.
