AltaMed Receives First-Ever Primary Care Medical Home Designation from The Joint Commission

Online, August 18, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Nation's Largest Independent Federally-Qualified Health Center Leads the Way for Patient-Centered Standards and Practice

LOS ANGELES - AltaMed Health Services has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ in compliance with The Joint Commission's standards for Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH).

While PCMH is a relatively new term in the health care industry, it is a practice AltaMed has used for a long time. Under the PCMH model, AltaMed primary care doctors work closely with an interdisciplinary team to support the patient and ensure comprehensive and coordinated care, treatment and services.

To earn this designation, AltaMed underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey the week of July 11, 2011. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated AltaMed staff for compliance with the standards of care that exemplify PCMH. "Organizations that pursue the PCMH option from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to delivering primary care in a comprehensive, coordinated and accessible model," says Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. "I commend Alta Med for successfully achieving this pinnacle, the first using the accreditation option from The Joint Commission, and for its dedication to continually improving patient care."

"This Joint Commission designation recognizes the hard work AltaMed employees engage in every day as they put our patients at the center of our organization. Following these practices also gives us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence," says Cástulo de la Rocha, President and CEO.

"This designation recognizes the efforts our team has made to continuously improve the personal and coordinated care that we provide for our patients. PCMH creates an environment that allows us to work as a team and treat the whole patient-it's the core of our organization and an accreditation we're extremely proud to have," says Martin Serota, AltaMed's Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

The PCMH designation is a new Joint Commission option for accredited ambulatory care organizations, enacted July 1, 2011. AltaMed is the first organization to receive this Joint Commission designation.

The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

AltaMed Health Services
AltaMed is Southern California's leading nonprofit health care system delivering integrated primary care services, senior care programs, and health and human services for the entire family. AltaMed's team of multicultural and bilingual physicians and health care professionals deliver superior quality care through an integrated delivery system of 43 sites and an affiliated Independent Practice Association (IPA) of contracted physicians in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.