Princeton Medicine Practitioners Earn National Recognition for Patient-Centered Care
A group of primary care practitioners at Princeton Medicine has earned Patient-Centered Medical HomeTM status, which recognizes their use of a team approach combined with an effective electronic health record (EHR) system to deliver comprehensive, coordinated patient care.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition was granted by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to 13 physicians and advanced practice nurses at Princeton Medicine locations in Plainsboro, Dayton, Monroe and Princeton.
NCQA recognition is the “gold standard” for practices that strive to be a medical home, said Tobe M. Fisch, MD, PhD, a board certified primary care internist with Princeton Medicine, the employed physician group of Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS).
The medical home is a relatively new model of care rooted in the idea that patients’ needs should be coordinated through a single, primary care provider working together with a care team. This works especially well for patients with complex needs who see a number of specialists, take various medications or receive multiple services to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and depression.
“There is a concept called the Triple Aim, which states that providers should pursue a three-part goal to increase patient satisfaction, improve health and reduce costs,” said Dr. Fisch. “As an example, when we help people better manage a chronic condition, we can reduce hospitalizations. That avoids unnecessary expense and, even more importantly, our patients will be healthier and enjoy a better quality of life.”
At Princeton Medicine, a team led by a physician or an advanced practice nurse directs each patient's care. Nursing care coordinators identify patients with a greater level of need and then monitor their care closely. The practice’s EHR system is fully integrated with Princeton HealthConnect®, the health information exchange of University Medical Center of Princeton, ensuring that practitioners have immediate access to any changes in the patient’s medical record entered at the hospital. When a patient is seen in the Emergency Department, his or her care team members are notified through the EHR.
Princeton Medicine also demonstrates a commitment to patient-centered care by:
- Engaging patients who have chronic conditions in shared decision-making as they work with practitioners to develop evidence-based care plans.
- Continually monitoring quality of care and evaluating patient experience surveys in an effort to incorporate feedback that would improve patient satisfaction.
- Ensuring that a practitioner is on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
In addition to the Princeton Medicine name, the group includes Comprehensive OB/GYN Care of Princeton, Ewing Medical Associates, Hamilton Medical Group, NJ Bariatrics, Princeton Pike Internal Medicine and Rednor-Risi Family Medicine.
Medicare and most major insurance plans are accepted, including new plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
To find a Princeton Medicine physician, call 1-800-FIND A DR (346-3237) or visit www.FINDADR.com.
About Princeton HealthCare System
Princeton HealthCare System is a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that strives to anticipate and serve the lifelong needs of central New Jersey residents, including acute care hospital services through University Medical Center of Princeton, behavioral healthcare through Princeton House Behavioral Health, rehabilitation, home care, hospice care, ambulatory surgery, a primary and specialty medical practice, and fitness and wellness services. For more information, visit www.princetonhcs.org.
CONTACT:
Amy Franco, 609-252-8791
amfranco@princetonhcs.org
