January 2009

Medical Associates Clinic Awarded
“Patient-Centered Medical Home” Recognition

(DUBUQUE) – The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that Medical Associates Clinic has received recognition from the Physician Practice Connections®Patient-Centered Medical Home™ program (PPC®-PCMH™). Medical Associates is one of only a few practices in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to receive this prestigious distinction. In addition, Medical Associates ranked among the top recognized practices by scoring a Level 3, the highest recognition status obtainable.

PPC®-PCMH™ is a model of healthcare delivery that encourages improved quality and greater involvement of patients in their own care. It is based upon standards that assess whether a physician practice functions as a “patient-centered medical home.”

A patient-centered medical home is a setting where each patient has an ongoing relationship with a personal physician who leads a team and an organization that takes collective responsibility for patient care. Brian Schatz, Chief Operating Officer of Medical Associates Clinic, stated, “A physician-led team provides for the patient’s healthcare needs and, when necessary, arranges for appropriate care with other qualified physicians.” Quality care is facilitated by information technology, exchange of health information, and other means to assure that patients get the care when and where they need it, in a manner and language they understand.

“When people come to Medical Associates Clinic, they receive care in an environment that focuses on the patient, where physicians freely consult with one another using a shared electronic medical record system,” commented Dr. Mark Runde, President of Medical Associates. “We strive for teamwork and continuous improvement to our medical practice in order to deliver consistent, patient-centered care.”

To receive recognition, Medical Associates Clinic met required standards in the following areas: use of electronic medical record, use of patient tracking registries, educational resources for English and/or a second language, practice-wide measurement of quality, a process to implement improvements, structured care plans for individuals with chronic illness, and screening, referral, and follow up for high risk patients.

“This recognition from NCQA represents a culmination and validation of many quality-related efforts initiated at Medical Associates over the years,” explained Brian Schatz. “From the implementation of a clinic-wide electronic record, to measurement of the patient care experience, and the pursuit of best practice protocols in critical areas like diabetes and heart/stroke treatment—our number one organizational value has always been the delivery of coordinated, quality care of the highest order.”

NCQA President, Margaret E. O’Kane, stated, “PPC®-PCMH™ identifies doctors who make the most of their collective resources, to make better decisions and provide better follow up. The physicians at Medical Associates Clinic are to be commended for their achievement in earning this recognition.”

Medical Associates Clinic was established in 1924, and is the oldest multispecialty group practice clinic in Iowa. With over 150 providers serving Dubuque and the Tri-State area, Medical Associates has a staff of over 950 health care professionals and support personnel. In addition to PPC®-PCMH™ recognition, Medical Associates Clinic has also received Provider Recognition and Education Recognition jointly awarded by NCQA and the American Diabetes Association, and certification under NCQA’s Heart/Stroke Recognition. Medical Associates Clinic has been identified as a “Better Performing Practice” in numerous areas by the Medical Group Management Association for nine consecutive years. In addition, Medical Associates Health Plans has received an “Excellent” rating for nine consecutive years, the highest level of accreditation possible by NCQA.