UnityPoint Monticello Clinic earns recognition

     Jones Regional Medical Center Family Medicine–Monticello has been awarded the highest level of recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) 2011 Program.

     Providers who practice at the clinic include: Kaitlin Ahlskog, P.A.-C; Angela Schwendinger, M.D.; and Michael B. Weston, M.D.

     UnityPoint Clinic is transforming its primary care practices to a medical home model to improve patient-centered, coordinated care for the patients and communities it serves. The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 standards emphasize the use of systematic care management that supports access, communication, and patient involvement.

     UnityPoint Clinic has added care coordinators to their medical home team to help empower patients to be active participants in their health care. A care coordinator is a registered nurse who provides additional education on medication, nutrition, exercise and other topics important to a patient, assists them with goal setting and coaches them to develop a plan to achieve their goals.

     Patient-Centered Medical Home data shows promising results in improving care quality and lowering costs by increasing access to more efficient, coordinated, and responsive care. A clinic with a successful PCMH model demonstrates a level of excellence in five areas:

     • Proactively identifying patients for care management through chart preparation and risk stratification

     • Conducting whole patient rooming standards

     • Setting patient goals

     • Participating in patient-driven team huddles

     • Utilizing the care coordinator

     To find a UnityPoint Clinic primary care provider in your community, visit www.unitypoint.org/anamosa.