Visalia, CA – After undergoing a rigorous on-site survey in December 2015, Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) has received news that it achieved two Gold Seals of Approval® by The Joint Commission by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations, and as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). FHCN has been accredited by The Joint Commission for its ambulatory care program since 1997 and has since been successfully re-accredited. In 2013, FHCN became the first community health center in Tulare and Kings County to receive the dual recognition for its ambulatory care program and recognized as a PCMH. The renewed dual recognition demonstrates FHCN’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.
During the site-survey in December, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with ambulatory care and PCMH standards related to a variety of areas, including coordination of care, infection prevention and control, management of medications, and patient-centered education and training. To maintain these highly prestigious accreditations, FHCN demonstrated its continuous compliance with the Joint Commission’s nationally recognized standards across each of these areas.
“Joint Commission accreditation provides ambulatory care organizations with the processes contributing to improvements in a variety of areas from the enhancement of staff education, to the demonstration of leading practices within the ambulatory setting,” said Michael Kulczycki, M.B.A., CAE, executive director, Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation program, The Joint Commission. “Those who pursue PCMH Certification from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to delivering quality primary care in the ambulatory setting. We commend Family HealthCare Network for its efforts to become a quality improvement organization, and achieving this pinnacle demonstrating a commitment to patient safety and quality.”
“Family HealthCare Network is proud to achieve re-accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Kerry Hydash, Family HealthCare Network President & CEO. “Staff from across the organization continue to work together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that improve care for the patients in our community.”
Established in 1975, The Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation program encourages high quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities. In 2011, The Joint Commission’s PCMH Certification was established to encourage accredited ambulatory care organizations to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate treatment. Both recognitions are awarded for a three-year period.
In July 2012, FHCN also became the first community health center in California to receive recognition as a Level-3 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and was reaffirmed in July 2015. This is the highest level granted by the NCQA.
About Family HealthCare Network:
Family HealthCare Network is a private nonprofit organization that operates 20 sites, 16 of which are federally qualified health centers located throughout Tulare and Kings Counties. Our mission is to provide quality health care to everyone in the communities we serve. With more than 160 medical and dental providers in our network, we provide access to a wide range of coordinated health services. FHCN also offers pharmacy services, free transportation, and extended evening and weekend hours. FHCN is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home and is dually recognized by The Joint Commission with its Gold Seal of Approval® for Patient Quality and Safety and as a Patient Centered Primary Medical Home.
For more information about Family HealthCare Network, please call 1-877-960-3426, or visit our website at www.FHCN.org, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/fhcn.org or follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FHCN.
