One of your local Urgent Care centers recently received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an organization that measures and qualifies medical practices based on quality performance in health care.
All six Urgent Care centers – Buford, Braselton, Cleveland, Dacula, Dawsonville and Gainesville – were recognized for demonstrating how they connect the care it delivered at Urgent Care back to patients’ primary care team in a structured and timely manner.
NCQA Patient-Centered Connected Care recognition is awarded to sites that provide outpatient care for patients experiencing acute or episodic illness, but do not act as the patient’s primary care provider. The program is a roadmap for delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care that focuses on closing care gaps to ensure that relevant patient information is connected with the primary care physician. Its requirement also supports communication with secondary providers for patients receiving long-term specialty care.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Connected Care recognition expands best practices in the delivery of high-quality care by connecting care across the medical home neighborhood,” said Urgent Care administrative director Bobby Norris. “This recognition shows that Urgent Care has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, while ensuring that care is communicated clearly and efficiently with the team of clinicians charged to manage their patients’ overall health.”
To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Urgent Care earned the necessary scores across five standards and their corresponding elements:
The standard examine:
Connecting with primary care: The site connects with and shares information with patients’ primary care providers and helps them find a primary care provider if they don’t have one.
Identifying patient needs: The site directs patients to appropriate providers, when necessary.
Patient care and support: The site uses evidence-based decision support in care delivery, collaborates with patients to make care decisions and delivers culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
System capabilities: The site uses electronic systems to collect data and execute specific tasks.
Measure and improve performance: The site systematically monitors performance and carries out activities to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Visit an Urgent Care near you for treatment of minor illnesses and injuries or learn more about the award-winning care provided by Urgent Care at ngpg.org/urgent-care.
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Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) brings together more than 250 talented physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives and other clinical staff representing more than 20 specialties at more than 80 locations across North Georgia. Learn more at www.ngpg.org.
NGPG is affiliated with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), which serves more than 800,000 people in more than 13 counties across the region. As part of NGHS, patients of NGPG have a direct connection to Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Georgia’s #1 Hospital (CareChex®). Learn more at www.nghs.com.