 Dear Friends,
If you're reading this, you probably have a pretty good sense of what constitutes a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The concept is gaining traction, but with great recognition, comes great expectations. While we are delighted that so many providers are seeking PCMH recognition and the financial incentives that often go with it, we have to guard against the temptation to let medical home recognition or accreditation be the end of the journey, instead of the beginning.
A true medical home is an approach to providing comprehensive primary care that creates on-going partnerships with the patient. A medical home coordinates care among providers, and assures the patient gets whatever care is needed, whether it be prevention, treatment, referrals, medications or supportive services. It requires total reimagining of how a traditional practice operates and It always requires an unwavering commitment to improvement.
Judging by the hundreds of downloads of our new medical home assessment tool, providers across the country are keenly interested in medical home transformation. Meanwhile, New York and other states are increasingly turning to medical homes to produce desperately needed cost savings and improved quality and outcomes.
Primary care providers can meet these high expectations, but only through true transformation. With years of experience helping providers redesign practices to deliver high-performing, patient-centered primary care, PCDC is ready to assist in this transformation.
Sincerely,
Ronda Kotelchuck
Executive Director
P.S. Join us at PCDC's Gala to celebrate how far primary care has come!
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Gov. Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign Team:
Medical Homes for 1M Patients, New Primary Care Focus at State Health Department
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With New York's Medicaid program ranking among the most expensive in the country (accounting for 26% of the state's budget), Governor Cuomo appointed a 27 member Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) in January to reduce costs and increase the program's quality and efficiency. The final package, sent to Governor Cuomo in February includes:
- An office of Patient-Centered Primary Care Initiatives at the State Health Department
- Access to patient-centered medical homes for one million patients
- Resources to assist the restructuring of safety-net facilities, including ambulatory care centers to better serve low-income communitiies
New York State's Primary Care Coalition (PCC) supports the recommendations of the MRT, emphasizing those that will expand and strengthen primary care. Elizabeth Swain, CEO of the Community Health Care Association of NYS (CHCANYS) and co-founder of the PCC, represents the MRT's primary care interests and voted for the recommendations.
Click here to learn more about the Medicaid Redesign Team.
Click here to read the Primary Care Coalition's recommendations and support statement.
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Primary Care Expansion: Recent NY Openings & Groundbreakings
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Rochester Health Center Expands Dental Services
The Anthony L. Jordan Health Center in Rochester, NY recently broke ground on a $1.2 million expansion project that will add 2,500 square feet of space for four new dental operatives, five new medical exam rooms, a conference room and additional office space. The expansion is expected to help serve an additional 3,000 patients through Jordan's dental program. The project is funded through New York State's Community Health Center Capital Grant Program administered by PCDC, and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, as well as the Anthony Jordan Foundation.
Click here to read more about the proposed expansion.
Institute for Family Health Bronx Health Center Expansion
 The Institute for Family Health broke ground for a major expansion of its Walton Family Health Center in the Bronx, N.Y. Funded largely with a NYS Department of Health HEAL grant, the center will add 11,000 square feet, creating 12 exam rooms, 4 dental operations, and an eight-room mental health suite. The health center is one of 17 operated by the Institute for Family Health across New York State. Click here for more.
Open Door Family Medical Centers Purchases New Site
Open Door Family Medical Centers, based in Ossining, NY, recently purchased a new building in Sleepy Hollow that will help expand its existing family medicine residency program in partnership with Phelps Hospital and New York College of Medicine. Pending state approvals, Open Door expects to open the facility in 2015 and serve an additional 1,500 patients. Click here for more.
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PCDC Spring Gala to Honor Michael Dowling, Frank Branchini and Elizabeth Swain
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Wednesday, May 18th
at Bridgewaters
Atop the Fulton Street Market Building
at Southstreet Seaport
6:00 - 6:30 PM Sponsor Reception
6:30 - 7:30 PM General Reception
7:30 - 9:00 PM Dinner and Awards
For more information or to register online, visit
www.pcdcgala.org
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PCDC's New Assessment Tool for 2011 NCQA Medical Home Standards
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A new version of PCDC's Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Assessment Tool is now available for free, online. This tool helps providers and staff assess their practice's operations against the new National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2011 PCMH standards, which include use of electronic health records; patient and provider communication; data reporting; and care management and coordination.
The NCQA updated its PCMH standards in January to incorporate federal "meaningful use" of health IT language, so practices that meet PCMH 2011 requirements will be well prepared to qualify for meaningful use. The 2011 version also places more emphasis on patient experience, including a new optional patient experience survey, as well as new standards for pediatric care.
Click here for more information on PCDC's Performance Improvement services.
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| Project Spotlight: Improving Emergency Planning at for Mental Health Providers | 
Facilities serving the mentally ill have a special responsibility to protect their patients and staff in the event of an emergency; and PCDC is proving how adaptable its emergency preparedness tools are in diverse care settings.
The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene asked PCDC to adapt its emergency preparedness (EP) services to help Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village improve its emergency response procedures throughout its main campus and satellite locations.
PCDC is developing an EP self-assessment tool; hosting a campus-wide EP conference to train providers and staff; and providing a "Drills and Exercise" program to assess response to real-time emergencies (see video of an emergency drill at Maimonides Newkirk Ave).
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PCDC Presents: Sharing Primary Care Knowledge and Strategies
| March 20-22nd: Institute for Healthcare Improvement's International Summit on Improving Patient Care in the Office Practice & the Community Regina Neal, Director of Performance Improvement and PCDC Board Member, Karen Nelson, MD, MPH of Union Health Center will present "Transforming the Role of Medical Assistants: A Key to an Effective Patient-Centered Medical Home." The presentation will focus on the framework for a successful medical home care team, key steps for training MAs, and the role of huddles, team meetings, and partnerships in improving outcomes.
April 5th: California Healthcare Foundation's Clinic Design Seminar Nancy Lager, MPH, MSUP, Director of Project Planning, will lead an interactive session titled "Owner Decision Making" to help health center leaders better understand their role in successful facility development projects and will address key decision-making responsibilities, the role of consultants, and project budget development and monitoring.
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NYAM Healthcare Delivery Series
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The New York Academy of Medicine is sponsoring a series of lectures and educational sessions on changes to healthcare delivery. Topics include workforce changes, health information technology and care coordination. Donna Shalala, PHD will close out the series with a lecture on "The Future of Nursing" on June 13th. Click here for more information. |
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PCDC Career Opportunities
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Program Manager, Performance Improvement: Responsible for the successful execution of assigned performance improvement projects, including medical home and meaningful use of health IT. Works with cross-functional team members to ensure deliver of quality services to primary care clients.
Program Associate, Development & Communications: Responsible for supporting operations of Development and External Affairs team, plus significant writing opportunities for press releases, e-communications, web content, program grants, and policy briefs, and support for donor events including PCDC's annual spring gala.
To apply, e-mail cover letter and resume (plus two writing samples for Program Associate candidates) with job title in the subject line to: employment@pcdcny.org.
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| About PCDC | |
Since 1993, PCDC has been transforming healthcare in underserved communities by providing high-impact financing, innovative services, and policy leadership that helps providers expand access to high-quality, patient-centered primary care. Our mission is driven by three key strategies:
Investing... We provide the capital to build new facilities, expand practices, and upgrade outmoded equipment, leading to better services for more patients. Strengthening...We guide providers to develop patient-centered approaches that strengthen their practices and transform the delivery of care.
Leading... We promote policies that increase access to quality primary care in order to lower costs and improve the health of communities.
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Healthcare Reform Financing Opportunities for Community Lenders | |
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IFH Named "Teaching Health Center"
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Low-Cost, Long-Term Financing for Community Health Facilities | |
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FQHC Executive Tapped to Lead NY Primary Care Initiatives
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12 NYC Health Centers Finish First Medical Home / Meaningful Use Learning Series
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Remembering Dr. Richard F. Daines, 60
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The 
PCDC mourns the loss of Former NYS Health Commissioner, Richard F. Daines, MD. Dr. Daines, fought tirelessly for a high-performing health system that prioritized primary care and supported prevention, wellness and coordination of care. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Daines oversaw the development of New York's medical home incentive program, and significant primary care and health information technology infrastructure expansion. He will be sorely missed.