PrimeCare receives highest ratings for excellence
May 04, 2006

PrimeCare Physician Associates has once again received the highest possible ratings in the Maine Health Management Coalition (MHMC) annual Pathways to Excellence report rating Maine's best primary care sites.

Last year PrimeCare also received the MHMC's highest possible ratings for quality.
In the recent report, PrimeCare received three blue ribbons for excellence for meeting the highest standards of care as measured by the MHMC, a non-profit coalition of employers representing more than 150,000 employees statewide.

The MHMC was founded to address rising health care costs by improving the quality and value in the health care services they purchase for their members’ employees and families.

Ratings are based on self-reported data from physician offices and on health claims data. The MHMC Steering Committee reviews the data and awards blue ribbons for good performance in three areas: using clinical office systems to better manage care, following clinical care guidelines and measuring the results of care.

"We are committed to providing excellent care for every patient, every time," notes Michael Albaum, PrimeCare's medical director and an internist. "We're pleased to have our excellence recognized by an independent ratings source as we place great value on the quality initiatives we've had in place for several years.

"Excellence in health care goes beyond the valued doctor/patient relationship; it's making sure that the best practices in medicine are applied across the full population of patients," he adds. "Our role is to help provide patients with the tools they need to manage their conditions successfully."

According to Dr. Albaum, the best clinical office systems enable physicians to track patient medical information to better manage patient care. For example, computer information systems can help PrimeCare doctors create reminders for patients who need flu shots or routine lab tests.

Dr. Albaum also notes that following clinical care guidelines indicates that a practice meets and exceeds the national, best-care standards for specific medical conditions such as diabetes, low back pain and cardiovascular conditions.

"Studies have proven that patients do much better when guidelines are followed," he notes. "Ideally, a practice uses the guidelines to develop preventive care plans to help patients better manage their care."

Measuring the results of care is also a critical component of the Pathways to Excellence rating. MHMC reviews the patient outcomes at each practice to determine if they meet or exceed national standards, specifically for patients with depression, obesity and heart disease.

"We think it's important to put our standards directly in front of patients and potential patients so that they can evaluate our quality and make the best possible health care decisions based on independently reviewed results," notes Dr. Albaum.

"At PrimeCare, we don't just say we offer excellent care, we participate in external measures of quality, such as the MHMC site surveys, so that our patients can be assured that they are receiving the best possible care."