Community Health Center, Inc. Earns National Recognition From NCQA for Patient-Centered Care

MIDDLETOWN, Conn., October 30, 2017: Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) has been awarded recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home – the highest level of recognition conferred by NCQA. NCQA commended CHC as “among an elite group that has demonstrated its commitment to advancing quality in health care.”

A statewide health system caring for more than 145,000 patients, CHC’s recognition is valid for three years, through 2020. CHC has held PCMH Level 3 recognition for the previous three years, from 2014-2017, so this award recognizes ongoing excellence at a Patient-Centered Medical Home, encompassing CHC locations across Connecticut: Bristol, Clinton, Danbury, Enfield, Groton, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, New London, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Stamford and Waterbury. CHC’s Hartford location, which joined the CHC network in 2016, was awarded Level 3 recognition separately, effective through 2018.

“This recognition from NCQA validates the high level of patient-centered team based care for which CHC always strives,” said CHC’s Chief Medical Officer, Veena Channamsetty, MD. “We work every day not only to deliver excellent care, but also to coordinate and manage that care and keep quality improvement a constant priority. I’m proud of the work we do and the outstanding patient care delivered by our teams.”

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communications and patient involvement.

“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focus on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Community Health Center, Inc. has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”

To earn recognition, CHC demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards align with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

“CHC sets a high bar for excellence in patient care, utilizing evidence-based, patient-centered processes to maintain the highest level of quality across the agency,” said Mark Masselli, CHC President and CEO. “We’re very pleased NCQA has again recognized the hard work of our clinical teams to coordinate and continually improve the care we deliver to thousands of patients each day.”