Providing a multidisciplinary focus and a higher level of quality patient care are some of the changes that will be the result of MUSC moving forward in embracing the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model.

In early November, MUSC's Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics achieved the highest recognition (Level 3) as a Physician Practice Connections PCMH from the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

This is the second MUSC program to receive the NCQA Level 3 designation as a PCMH rating. MUSC Department of Family Medicine received this rating last spring.

Bill Moran, M.D., General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics division director, said that the team-based model will allow practitioners to spend more time helping patients understand their disease and the disease process, plus incorporate preventive services that will maximize a patient's overall health outcomes.

"This will be a constantly changing process that will improve how our patients receive medical care and move through our clinics."

The division committed to the PCMH concept in May. Moran credits a group of specialists and staff involved in this effort including Kim Davis, M.D., clinic director; Tamela Sill, R.N., nursing director; Laura Fulk, program manager; and Justin Marsden, program assistant.

The NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. The NCQA-PCMH standards were established to help clinicians and practices support the delivery of quality health care.