We are proud to announce the successful renewal of our Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for the eleven participating Valley Primary Care clinics. This national recognition is awarded by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). What is so great about being a PCMH, and why strive to keep this recognition year after year? “NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Valley Medical Center Primary Care has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”

Our PCMH recognition also supports Valley Medical Center on our high reliability journey and the Quadruple Aim - to enhance patient experience, improve population health, reduce costs, and improve joy in work. To renew each year, practices must satisfy PCMH principles around team-based care, patient management, care management and care transitions, along with performance and quality improvement measures. Participation in quality and safety initiatives such as plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, care pathways, and safety event reporting is important to achieving these requirements.

A huge round of applause to these clinics for their hard work and dedication to continuous improvement and high quality, patient centered care - even while handling the added obstacles and stresses of a pandemic. Congratulations to:

• Cascade Primary Care
• Covington Primary Care
• Fairwood Primary Care
• Kent Primary Care
• Kent Station Primary Care
• Lake Sawyer Primary Care
• Maple Valley Primary Care
• Newcastle Primary Care
• Renton Highlands Primary Care
• Valley Family Medicine
• Valley Senior Care & Internal Medicine

Well done!

To learn more about the Patient-Centered Medical Home program and the National Committee for Quality Assurance visit the NCQA website: https://www.ncqa.org.

Elizabeth Peterson, RN, MPH, CPHQ, Director, Ambulatory Quality & Safety

Kim Herner, MD, Chief Quality Officer