Survey results in additional certification as primary care medical home
(READING, PA) – Berks Community Health Center (BCHC) has announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Care Accreditation. In addition, the health center has earned Primary Home Medical Care (PHMC) Certification. “We are delighted and proud to receive accreditation and certification from The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” explained BCHC CEO Mary Kargbo.
According to The Joint Commission, The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. PCMH Certification is a special add-on option for Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory health care organizations, which reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting optional standards demonstrating a commitment to patient-centered care.
Berks Community Health Center underwent a rigorous onsite survey on March 6-7, 2018. For the Ambulatory Care accreditation BCHC was evaluated for compliance with standards related to a variety of ambulatory care areas, including:
coordination of care,patient safety,infection prevention and control,management of medications,patient education and training,monitoring for procedures that involve use of sedation or anesthesia.
To earn the additional Certification as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH), BCHC was evaluated for its compliance with standards related to how effectively the primary care clinician and the interdisciplinary team work in partnership with patients to provide comprehensive, coordinated and patient-centered care. PCMH Certification provides ambulatory care organizations with the processes needed to improve patient access to care. It also encourages these organizations to focus on educating patients and showing them how to self-manage their illness or condition.
“Ambulatory care organizations that pursue PCMH Certification from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to delivering quality primary care in the ambulatory setting,” said Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We commend Berks Community Health Center and its staff for achieving this pinnacle demonstrating a commitment to patient safety and quality. Your passion, dedication and tenacity can ultimately improve patient care. Thank you for your commitment to patient safety and entrusting The Joint Commission to assist you.”
The Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program was established in 1975, and encourages high-quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities. Today, the Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program serves 2,100 ambulatory care providers, with more than 8,500 sites of care, which, in turn, serve more than 83 million patient visits annually.
Established in 2011, The Joint Commission’s PCMH Certification, awarded for a three-year period, encourages accredited ambulatory care organizations to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate treatment. PCMH Certification can potentially result in increased patient satisfaction, improved patient outcomes and reduced overall costs to the health care system. Today, the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program certifies nearly 170 organizations, with more than 1,300 sites of care, which, in turn, serve over 4 million patient visits annually.
Said BCHC CEO Mary Kargbo, “In achieving Ambulatory Care accreditation and the additional PCMH Certification, we are operating within a framework to provide care that is better coordinated and tracked to allow for an effective interdisciplinary team approach. This benefits our patients.”
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