Curry Medical Center Gets Top Recognition

BROOKINGS, Oregon (May 23, 2016) - Curry Health Network announced today that Curry Medical Center, the Network's clinic in Brookings, Oregon, has been recognized by the Oregon Health Authority as a Tier 3 Patient-Centered Primary Care Home, the highest level awarded by the state.

"It's very satisfying," said Virginia (Ginny) Razo, CEO of Curry Health Network (CHN). "We've worked hard for the last year to improve our processes and the care we provide to our patients," she added. "It is one more feather in our cap that reflects our deep commitment to improving care for our patients." The other feathers Razo alluded to include the recent accreditation by AAAHC of Rush Surgery Center, the Network's ambulatory surgery center in Brookings, and the DNV-GL quality and safety accreditation in 2015 of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.

The three-tier system of rating primary care practices recognized as Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes (PCPCHs) like Curry Medical Center takes into account six areas of care: accessibility, accountability, comprehensiveness, continuity, coordination of care, and patient- and family-centeredness. The PCPCH model of primary care has the potential to advance the "triple aim" goals of health reform: a healthy population, extraordinary patient care and reasonable costs.

"Becoming recognized as a PCPCH required us to look at everything we do with a discerning eye, and make positive changes in how we provide care," Razo said. "In a nutshell, as a PCPCH Curry Medical Center will offer and coordinate preventative services so people are taken care of proactively."

Danyell Thomson, Director of Clinics offered more details. "Changes to the clinic included increasing the focus on patient outcomes and quality - even simple things such as process improvement in prescription refills and returning calls makes for a better experience for our patients. We're also working toward the future implementation of population management. Other areas were already a part of the clinic's everyday practice such as offering extended hours, access of care, and scoring patient satisfaction."

No financial incentives for PCPCH status is currently offered through the State, but AllCare, a Coordinated Care Organization, is offering a per member/per month incentive bonus which is paid to CHN quarterly. "Anticipated revenue through AllCare may be up to $100,000 per year, although that number will fluctuate based on the number of AllCare members," said Razo. "This additional revenue will help support the additional services people want and need in order to stay healthy."

When asked what happens after achieving Tier 3 PCPCH status, Razo said going through the process creates new opportunities to improve. "In the future, as we operate within the PCPCH guidelines, we look forward to taking every opportunity we can to provide extraordinary care," she said.

Curry Health Network was established in 1983 as an Oregon Special District and exists for healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care. The Network is comprised of Curry General Hospital and Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach, Curry Medical Center and Rush Surgery Center in Brookings, and Curry Family Medical in Port Orford. The Network also owns Shore Pines Assisted Living in Gold Beach.

#