HARRISVILLE - Ritchie Regional Health Center, with centers in Harrisville, Ellenboro, West Union, St. Marys and Parkersburg, received the National Committee for Quality Assurance Level II Patient Centered Medical Home 2011 certification.
The national committee is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality, a press release states.
The committee accredits and practices in areas of performance and provides health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.
Ritchie Regional Health Center is the first in the state to receive this recognition based on 2011 guidelines, officials said.
In Wood County, the center operates school-based health care centers at Jefferson Elementary Center and Parkersburg South High School that are open to students and community members.
A Patient Centered Medical Home is a health care setting that facilitates partnerships between individual patients and their personal physicians, and when appropriate, the patient's family, officials said.
The certification demonstrates an organization's commitment to ensuring access to and quality of health care for patients, officials said.
"The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of 21st century primary care that combines access, teamwork and technology to deliver quality care and improve health," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "NCQA's PCMH 2011 Recognition shows that Ritchie Regional Health Center has tools, systems and resources to provide their patients with the right care at the right time."
To receive this certification, RRHC had to meet standards and processes of high quality care and measures, officials said.
In 2011, the center served about 10,000 patients through the six community health and school based centers.
"This recognition is the effort of not just one, but many team members at our organization," Bill Snider, CEO of the center.
"While our mission really says it all, the recognition we have achieved through NCQA exemplifies our true commitment to quality, excellent care."
