OPEN DOOR FAMILY MEDICAL CENTERS NAMED TOP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN NATION FOR USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
NCQA Recognized Medical Home Receives Prestigious Award

 HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence Recognizes Excellence in use of Health Information Technology

Open Door Family Medical Centers a federally qualified community health center providing quality health care to the under-served, uninsured and underinsured residents of Westchester County has received the HIMSS Community Health Davies Award For Excellence.  The award recognizes excellence in the implementation and use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records (EMRs).

“The Davies Award is the highest recognition of excellence that a community health organization can receive for its EHR implementation and use. Open Door is a deserving recipient of the Davies. The medical center staff has shown leadership, vision and enthusiasm in its EHR implementation; they and their community are reaping the benefits of improved patient outcomes and operational efficiencies. Each member of their staff, clinical and executive teams has been a part of this and each deserves recognition for great work and commitment to a future of continuing improvement. They offer a model for community health centers across the country,” said Margaret F. Schulte, DBA, FACHE, CPHIMS, Instructor, Masters of Science in Medical Informatics, Northwestern University.

“Open Door has been highly innovative in our use of electronic information systems to improve the community’s health.  We have developed clinical decision support systems used at the point of care and we use patient registries to prevent patients from falling through the cracks.  We mine our data routinely to be sure we are consistently delivering the best, evidence-based care. I think everyone should expect this same level of attention from their health care provider and we at Open Door look forward to setting new standards for our industry,” commented Lindsay Farrell, Open Door’s President and CEO.       

Over 92 percent of Open Door’s patients have incomes at our below the 200 percent of the federal poverty line and more than 55 percent have no health insurance of any kind. As a Joint Commission accredited health center and an NCQA Level III Patient Centered Medical Home, Open Door leverages its data warehouse and quality reporting tools to achieve care quality and operational efficiently. As a result Open Door is able to offer their community greater access to a better and more efficient delivery of health care.

Open Door received the highest level of Recognition as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It means that we are a medical practice that consistently treats patients according to the best available scientific evidence according to the principles defined by the largest primary care groups in the country, including the American College of Physicians, The Academy of Family Physicians and the Academy of Pediatrics. This is significant as only 12% of medical practices in the country qualify.

In a medical system where patients are often confronted with a complex and confusing health care system, having a personalized, coordinated and comprehensive care when they need it makes all the difference in health outcomes. Patients are at the center of their care team and communication is based on trust, respect and shared decision-making.

The medical home concept is not new, and is sometimes confused with institutional care or nursing homes. It is a way for physician led medical practices to integrate health care services for patients, ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time. It broadens access and reduces the risk that their medical problems get worse or require a hospital visit. Supported by a robust health information technology system a medical home is able to track patient test results, review medicines and follow up with providers involved in the care of the patient. That’s what Open Door provides every day to every patient.