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Nationally Recognized for Quality Care
St. John’s Mercy Medical Group (SJMMG) is a recognized leader in providing
quality health care. We are proactive in working with national quality organizations
and managed care groups on a variety of quality improvement initiatives:
NCQA Certification
The National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) accredits and certifies
a wide range of health care organizations. The NCQA has established two physician
certification programs related to disease states: diabetes and heart/stroke.
Each program defines quality measures and goals for physicians, based on
national best practices, which physicians must meet to earn certification.
More than 75 percent of eligible SJMMG physicians are either certified or
applying for certification through the NCQA in at least one of the two programs.
It is notable that SJMMG physicians comprise 54 percent of all NCQA-recognized
physicians in the state of Missouri and 70 percent of those with NCQA recognition
in the St. Louis area. SJMMG physicians represent 84 percent of Missouri
and 100 percent of St. Louis-area physicians with NCQA certification in the
heart/stroke program.
View Physicians Submitted for NCQA Certification
Quality Improvement Auditing Process
All SJMMG physicians participate in an ongoing quality improvement auditing
process with evidence-based quality measures and peer-defined goals that
was originated approximately seven years ago. Physicians receive feedback
on their individual results, and group aggregate data is reviewed by the
group’s Quality Improvement Committees.
All specialties combined, there are 42 different quality measures reviewed.
Some examples include: colorectal screening, diabetes management, hypertension
management, immunization management, and cervical and breast cancer screening.
CMS Physician Voluntary Reporting Program (PVRP)
As part of its overall quality improvement efforts, the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the PVRP in January 2006. Under the
voluntary reporting program, physicians capture data about the quality of
care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. SJMMG is one of the few medical
groups participating in the voluntary reporting program. The data gathered
in this program will help CMS construct a pay-for-performance program.
Primaris Doctors Office Quality Information Initiative
Primaris, a nonprofit health care consulting firm that also serves as Missouri’s
Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, named SJMMG a Missouri Quality
Partner in 2006. SJMMG was recognized for participating in the national Doctors
Office Quality Information Initiative (DOQ-IT) initiative by implementing
an electronic medical record.
Healthy People 2010
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) has developed
a set of preventive health goals known as Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010).
This initiative is designed to identify significant health threats and establish
national goals to reduce these threats by the year 2010. SJMMG physicians
audit themselves against some of these measures, and they consistently meet
or exceed the goals. In fact, it is noteworthy that SJMMG physicians met
or exceeded many HP 2010 goals as early as 2003.
Evidence-based Guidelines for Imaging
Based on SJMMG’s historical adherence to evidence-based guidelines, a national
HMO is considering exempting SJMMG from their imaging pre-notification program.
Ideal Missouri Practice
One of our physicians is participating in a new program jointly sponsored by
the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition, Primaris, (the CMS Quality
Improvement Organization for the state of Missouri), Dartmouth Medical School
and the Commonwealth Fund. The Ideal Missouri Practice is defined as a patient-centered,
efficient, accountable, and accessible practice. This concept is consistent
with the Institute of Medicine’s recent report Priority Areas for National
Action: Transforming Health Care Quality. It has been shown that excellent
care depends on the effectiveness of the interaction between an informed
engaged patient and a prepared practice team.
American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) Steering Committee on Quality Improvement and Measurement
Our Pediatric Medical Director participates on the Ad Hoc Committee on Quality
for the AAP’s quality committee. The group will be developing and advising
on pediatric quality measures. This allows SJMMG to have a voice in national
quality measures for our pediatric patients.
Find
an SJMMG Physician
Visit the SJMMG Home Page
Clinical Measures:
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