By KHI NEWS SERVICE

The National Committee on Quality Assurance recently recognized three Via Christi Clinic patient-centered medical home pilot sites with its top rating.

The Via Christi Clinic in Newton and two Wichita sites — Via Christi Clinic on West 21st and Via Christi Clinic at 21st and Reflection Ridge — received three-year designations as Level 3 patient-centered medical home facilities last month.

The committee’s assessment is one of the most widely used national quality evaluation and recognition programs in the U.S. health care system.

Level 3 is the highest recognition that it awards. The medical home approach, which is being expanded throughout Via Christi, provides patients with more coordinated medical care, increased access to preventive services and better management of chronic diseases.

“Recognition of the medical homes is important because it gives more than 100 clinicians and staff members validation of their incredibly hard work,” said Dr. Terry L. Mills, who practices at the Newton clinic and has overseen the pilot project.

“They have been crucial in transforming these clinics from typical practices to high-functioning medical homes.” Primary care physicians like Mills lead care teams that include advanced practice professionals, care coordinators and clinical pharmacists to help patients better manage chronic illnesses.

Via Christi said its patient-centered medical home model has reduced the annual cost of care for patients in the pilot project by 11.9 percent, avoidable emergency room visits by 31.5 percent and inpatient hospital costs by 17.3 percent.

Changes at the pilot sites included adding care coordinators to manage patients’ transitional care, sharing a pharmacist trained in outpatient care, establishing patient advisory councils and relocating patient service representatives in the clinics to better connect with care teams.