Five USF Health clinical departments have been named Patient-Centered Medical Home sites by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA), a selection that demonstrates their focus on patient-doctor partnerships.

Being a NCQA designated patient-centered medical home means these USF Health departments use evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on coordinated care and long-term connections to patients.

USF Health’s Department of Pediatrics pioneered the effort – earning its designation in November 2015 – with four other areas soon following, the most recent of which was Oct. 31, 2016. USF Health primary care sites now recognized as Patient Centered Medical Homes include:

• Department of Pediatrics (notified November 2015)
• Department of Family Medicine (notified April 2016)
• Division of General Internal Medicine (notified April 2016)
• General Internal Medicine’s Geriatric Clinic at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute (notified April 2016)
• Division of Medicine/Pediatrics (notified October 2016)

“These certifications validate the important work we do and our emphasis on teamwork, care coordination and communication,” said Patricia Emmanuel, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “Medical homes can improve patients’ and providers’ care experience, lower costs and improve quality.”

The designation requires meeting six key standards: patient-centered access; team-based care; population health data analysis; use of evidence-based guidelines for care management and support; care coordination with care transitions; and performance measurement and quality improvement.

The following clinicians are linked to this recognition:

Dr. Richard Roetzheim and patient.

Department of Family Medicine
Eric Coris MD
Eduardo Gonzalez MD
Arthur Herold MD
Vanessa Inacio MD
Gerald Keller DO
Melanie Molligan PA
Richard Roetzheim MD
Jennifer Teeters PA
Laurie Woodard MD
Kira Zwygart MD

Dr. Lucy Guerra.

Division of General Internal Medicine
Sharon Aroda MD
Max Feldman MD
Lucy Guerra MD
Byron Moran MD
Asa Oxner MD
Hugo Narvarte MD
Kevin O’Brien MD
Farnaz Tabatabaian MD
Robert Walker MD

Dr. Crystal Jacovino (right).

Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute
Sharon Aroda MD
Max Feldman MD
Lucy Guerra MD
Crystal Jacovino DO
Hugo Narvarte MD
Asa Oxner MD
Robert Walker MD

Patient with Dr. Sharon Dabrow.

Department of Pediatrics
Christie Barone Bock ARNP
Tracy Burton MD
Sharon Dabrow MD
Veronica Davis DO
Jeannette Fleischer ARNP
Danielle Gomez MD
Amira Helal MD
Vinita Kiluk MD
Brian Knox MD
Mudra Kumar MD
Carol Lilly MD
Luis Maldonado MD
John McCormick MD
Lynette Ringenberg MD
Lisa Rodriguez MD
Melinda Shiver MD
Lana Soylu MD
Jennifer Takagishi MD
Laura Weathers MD
Amy Weiss MD

Dr. Denise Edwards.

Division of Medicine/Pediatrics
Denise Edwards MD
Jeannette Fleischer ARNP
Kelli Hanratty NP
Brian Knox MD
John McCormick MD
Mary Rose Balunos Mitchell ARNP
Lana Soylu MD
Diane Straub MD
Laura Weathers MD

Photos by Eric  Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications.