HEALTHeLINK recognizes Erie County primary care practices | Health

In its ongoing efforts to assist practices in utilizing technology to improve the quality and coordination of patient care, HEALTHeLINK recently recognized the achievements of 59 primary care practices, including 37 in Erie County, that have reached Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance by using Western New York’s clinical information exchange. With the support of a New York State Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law (HEAL) Phase 10 grant, which was awarded to HEALTHeLINK, these practices used PCMH standards to organize care around their patients, utilize technology wherever possible, and work with other health care professionals to coordinate and track care over time, including arranging for appropriate care with other qualified providers as needed.  In addition HEALTHeLINK worked with Catholic Medical Partners, Health Now, Independent Health Association and P2 Collaborative of Western New York, to support the implementation of these PCMH standards.

“Health information technology is a vital component of a fully functioning Patient Centered Medical Home model, as exhibited by these practices,” said Daniel Porreca, HEALTHeLINK’s executive director. “This certification shows a deep commitment by the practice to provide the highest quality of patient care.”

By building on current health information and using improved clinical processes, these primary care practices are now able to pull labs, radiology and hospital results through HEALTHeLINK and then integrate these results with electronic patient data generated from the practice to provide well-informed diagnoses and care coordination for patients. Throughout the three-year project, HEALTHeLINK more than tripled the original goal of assisting 15 practices in achieving PCMH certification. 

Those following practices in Erie County were recognized by HEALTHeLINK for achieving PCMH certification:

·         Amherst Medical Associates, Amherst

·         Aquino, Hartrich, Hrab, Heyden, Patti & Thierman, Amherst

·         Aspire of Western New York

·         Buffalo Medical Group, Buffalo

·         Martin A. Casey, MD, West Seneca

·         Cleveland Hill Medical Group, Cheektowaga

·         Dr. David Clifford, Buffalo

·         Community Health Center of Buffalo, Buffalo

·         Concord Medical Group, Springville

·         East Aurora Family Practice, East Aurora

·         Dr. Robert Erickson, Orchard Park

·         Family Care Physicians, PC, Williamsville

·         GPG Damiani, Derby

·         Dr. Steven Herman, Hamburg

·         Highgate Medical Group, Williamsville

·         Jericho Road Family Practice, Buffalo

·         Maple Ayer Medical, Williamsville

·         Lake Shore Primary Care Associates, Hamburg

·         Lifetime Health Medical Group, Amherst, Buffalo, Hamburg, West Seneca

·         Limestone Primary Care Physicians, LLC, Buffalo

·         Neighborhood Health Center, Buffalo

·         Northtowns Medical Group, Buffalo

·         David J. Novelli, MD, Buffalo

·         O’Connor Medical Group, Orchard Park

·         Orchard Park Family Practice, Orchard Park

·         Parkview Primary Care Physicians, Cheektowaga

·         People Inc. – Elmwood Health Center, Buffalo

·         Primary Care of Western New York, Williamsville

·         Quaker Medical Associates, Orchard Park

·         Donald W. Robinson, MD, Hamburg

·         Sheridan Medical Group, Buffalo

·         Southgate Medical Group, West Seneca

·         Southwestern Medical Associates, LLP, Orchard Park

·         Dr. Bonnie Sunday, Orchard Park

·         Sweet Home Family Medicine, Amherst

·         Tonawanda Medical Group, Tonawanda

·         UB Family Medicine, Amherst, Buffalo, Tonawanda

·         John P. Ward, DO, East Aurora

·         Western NY Medical, Amherst, Buffalo, Depew, Derby, Hamburg, South Buffalo

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About HEALTHeLINK:  The not-for-profit organization was established through funding from BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, The Catholic Health System, Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Independent Health Association, Kaleida Health, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Univera Healthcare and the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers Capital Grant Program (HEAL NY) from New York State. HEALTHeLINK also received one of the country’s largest awards as part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program.

HEALTHeLINK stakeholders include a broad representation of healthcare professionals and organizations throughout the eight-county Western New York region such as the State University of New York at Buffalo, P2 Collaborative, Chautauqua County Health Network, the WNY Rural Area Health Education Center and local county public health departments. For more information on HEALTHeLINK, visit www.wnyhealthelink.com.