Kentucky REC Launches New Round of Support for Providers Seeking to Transform Patient Care
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 24, 2015) – The Kentucky Regional Extension Center(REC) hosted its second Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Kick-Off Meeting on March 13 for a group of pioneer health care provider organizations in Kentucky.
Participants included UK HealthCare, Baptist Health Medical Group, Murray-Calloway County Physicians, Matthew 25 AIDS Clinic, Bluegrass Clinic, Bluegrass.org, Kentucky River Community Care, Harrison Memorial Hospital Physicians, and Dr. AC Wright.
The Kentucky REC will assist these practices in achieving recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a PCMH. Becoming a PCMH practice involves using an innovative improvement framework for healthcare organizations to enhance quality and value for patients. With its focus on quality improvement, care coordination, preventative services, and chronic disease management, the PCMH framework helps practices deliver better care, better outcomes and lower costs.
“We are delighted to offer support to practices as they prepare for the many changes ahead in healthcare,” said Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, Kentucky REC Director and UK HealthCare Chief Medical Information Officer. “We are excited to offer these services and to support innovative care models, such as PCMH, that are proven to help practices deliver coordinated, cost-effective care for their patients.”
Kentucky REC has helped health care providers across the state implement electronic health records and qualify for federal incentive funds. But, electronic health records are just a start for practices on the road to more patient-centered care. Now, the Kentucky REC is focused on helping practices prepare for the next wave of innovation by using technology together with changes in practice culture and workflow to radically improve patients’ experience of care and the effectiveness of the healthcare system overall.
Practices participate in group learning sessions for 18 months and work together with specially-trained REC staff to make changes that benefit patients. At the end of the 18 months, successful practices will apply for special recognition from NCQA.
Kentucky Regional Extension Center is a trusted advisor and strategic partner for health care providers in their efforts to improve care and patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and improve the overall health and well-being of the Commonwealth and beyond.
The Kentucky REC offers a comprehensive set of transformation services include: Meaningful Use Assistance, EHR Implementation & Optimization, HIPAA Privacy & Security Risk Analysis, Patient-Centered Medical Home Consulting, ICD-10 Training, and Quality Improvement Support.
For more information about the Kentucky REC, visit www.kentuckyrec.com. Follow @KentuckyREC on Twitter and connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EHRResource.