Spectrum Health Earns Patient-Centered Medical Home Designation in 49 Practices

Forty-nine Spectrum Health practices have been designated patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) for 2014 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The designation period runs from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

This ranks them among a select group of primary care practices in Michigan who are improving health care quality by adopting the PCMH model of care.

“The patient-centered medical home is health care centered on the patient,” said Seth W. Wolk, MD, MHSA, president, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “We take a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to patient care, helping our patients meet their health goals and keeping track of all their specialist visits, test results and prescriptions.”

The Blues have designated roughly 1,420 primary care practices — with more than 4,020 primary care doctors — as PCMH practices. The program is the largest of its kind in the country and has the potential to affect close to 2 million Michigan residents.

“With the PCMH model, primary care physicians lead care teams that work with patients to keep them healthy and monitor their care on an ongoing basis,” said David Share, MD, MPH, senior vice president, Value Partnerships, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

PCMH teams coordinate patients’ health care, track patients’ conditions and ensure that they receive the care they need. They offer extended access to the care team, coordinate complementary care (such as nutrition counseling) and help patients learn to better manage conditions like asthma and diabetes.

A recent analysis of claims data shows that PCMH-designated practices are succeeding in more effectively managing patients’ care to keep them healthy and prevent complications.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 170 ambulatory and service sites; 1,080 employed physicians and advanced practice providers including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a 575,000-member health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 21,400 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year. In 2014, Spectrum Health was named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Truven Health Analytics.