"Rather than have the whole team in the front office attempt to manage little pieces of that process, we made one person ... primarily responsible for that full process," Ms. Bell said.
They also began integrating behavioral health services into the practice, bringing a licensed clinical social worker on site. Patients are more likely to keep their appointments with the social worker now that they can do it at the ob.gyn.’s office, Ms. Bell said, and it gives patients more support in making lifestyle changes to support their health.
"It really has helped to remove barriers for patients," she said.
While physicians are embracing the medical neighborhood model, payers are moving more slowly.
Patricia Barrett, NCQA’s vice president for product development, said a few payers have indicated they that would offer bonus payments to specialty practices that achieve the NCQA recognition. But there’s not the same level of enthusiasm for paying specialists more as there was in rewarding primary care practices that become medical homes, she said.
The financial incentives for specialty practices are more likely to come through opportunities to participate in accountable care organizations or shared savings models, said Dr. Debra Karnasiewicz, director of quality and health information for Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, a small, multispecialty practice in Kingston, N.Y. Her practice has been working with other small practices in their area, as well as payers, to develop a shared savings model similar to what is underway through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com
On Twitter @maryellenny