A patient receives care at Christ Clinic in Katy, Texas, which recently achieved recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Photo courtesy of Christ Clinic.
Christ Clinic, a low-cost clinic in Katy, Texas, has been awarded Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Program. Christ Clinic achieved this recognition with the support of Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization.
“We are incredibly proud of Christ Clinic for achieving this important milestone which will benefit patients for years to come,” said Americares Vice President of U.S. Programs Edith Lee. “As a designated Patient-Centered Medical Home, Christ Clinic is now better positioned to provide low-income patients with the quality care they deserve.”
To qualify as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, clinics must actively engage patients in their care plans by connecting them to medical and social resources in their communities, offering easy access to care according to patient preferences and providing a comprehensive approach that addresses primary care and mental health needs. Becoming a Patient-Centered Medical Home also increases communication at the clinic level and allows providers to offer coordinated care to patients including prevention, wellness, acute and chronic care.
Americares offered guidance and technical assistance to support the clinic as they completed the foundational work necessary to begin the Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition process.
Christ Clinic provides low cost, quality medical care and referral services for low-income uninsured and underinsured patients from across the Greater Houston area. The clinic provides primary care, behavioral, preventative and physical therapy services as well as prescription assistance and health education classes and counseling.
“We are proud to be recognized as an organization that centers our care and programs around the needs of our patients,” said Christ Clinic Executive Director Lara Hamilton. “They deserve the highest level of care and as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, we can continue to innovate and provide reliable, accessible and high-quality medical services to the most vulnerable people in our community.”
The National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Christ Clinic has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”
Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster worldwide so they can reach their full potential. In the U.S., Americares is the largest nonprofit provider of medical aid to organizations serving low-income and uninsured patients. Americares provides more than $200 million in medicine, supplies, education and training annually to a network of nearly 1,000 partner clinics nationwide. Americares U.S. Program helps partner clinics increase capacity, provide comprehensive care, improve health outcomes and reduce costs for patients.