WILMINGTON, N.C. – Physician Quality Partners, Novant Health’s Coastal Region Accountable Care Organization (ACO), has ranked first in the nation for high quality performance in 2024 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).
For the second year in a row, Physician Quality Partners outperformed more than 450 other MSSP ACOs in the country. Together, participating clinics achieved an overall quality score of 98.69% based on 2024 data. ACOs help ensure healthcare providers offer coordinated, high-quality care to their patients at the best value.
In determining quality scores, CMS evaluates measurements such as patient screenings for cancer and chronic disease, prevention strategies and helping patients control conditions such as hypertension. The ranking also considers other metrics such as patient satisfaction and access to timely appointments.
“Our consistent, nation-leading results are a testament to the strong work of our local primary care physicians and advanced practice providers, whose commitment to their patients is helping us be a model to others in how we advance overall quality of care in our community,” said Dr. Charin Hanlon, chair, Physician Quality Partners ACO, and also vice president of medical education for Novant Health.
The preventive measures evaluated include:
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Treating high blood pressure to reduce risk of complications
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Treating high cholesterol to prevent heart disease
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Monitoring blood sugar to control diabetes
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Providing flu shots
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Screening for tobacco use and offering resources to quit
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Screening for risk of falls to prevent injuries
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Screening for depression and following up as needed
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Screenings for breast cancer (mammogram) and colon cancer (colonoscopy)
There are 64 Novant Health clinics included in Physician Quality Partners, and more than 18,000 patients benefit from Novant Health clinics participating in the Physician Quality Partners ACO.
“While this recognition is focused on the care we provide to Medicare patients, we want to thank all our patients for their engagement. If they didn’t follow our advice and go to their appointments for colonoscopies and mammograms, none of this would have been possible,” said Dr. Jeffrey Warhaftig, medical director of the Physician Quality Partners ACO and for the Novant Health Community Health & Wellness Institute - Coastal Region.
Read more about CMS’ Medicare Shared Savings Program here. For more information about Novant Health’s ACOs, visit NHMSSP.org.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of nearly 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, more than 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our more than 41,000 team members along with more than 8,600 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2024, Novant Health provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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