Fifty-five primary care outpatient medical offices within Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region have been recognized for putting patients at the forefront of care by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

As the country’s most widely adopted model for outpatient care, NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition Program honors medical offices and centers that have made a commitment to quality improvement and demonstrate a patient-centered approach to care.

According to recent NCQA studies, health care facilities with PCMH recognition demonstrate improved patient care experiences and overall health outcomes through outpatient services, including outpatient surgery, telehealth capabilities and prevention and screening programs — all while reducing overall health care costs.

“This recognition reflects our steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality care to our members and patients regardless of whether they are receiving care in our hospitals, physician’s office or through virtual technology,” said Janet Liang, President, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region. “It also underscores the tremendous value our dedicated teams provide through compassionate care as we continue to put our members at the center of everything we do.”

“With our integrated approach to care and our leadership in developing and integrating leading-edge technology, our physicians, nurses and staff are delivering care that is more connected, more convenient and more accessible than ever before to help our patients live healthier and longer lives,” said Richard S. Isaacs, MD, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group.

NCQA evaluates a primary care clinic’s implementation of PCMH concepts and requires annual reporting on quality improvement to sustain recognition.

“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 Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California primary care outpatient medical offices have the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”

Most of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California primary care outpatient medical offices have maintained their recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home since 2014 through NCQA’s renewal recognition program. As Kaiser Permanente has opened new primary care outpatient medical offices, it has proceeded with the steps to have them recognized as a PCMH. The most recent was in 2017, when Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s San Francisco Mission Bay Medical Office achieved its PCMH recognition.

As Kaiser Permanente expands its services to meet its growing membership, there are seven new primary care outpatient medical offices that will pursue PCMH recognition in the near future.

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About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.3 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/

About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s website www.ncqa.org contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

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