ACHS' PSPC Team Brings Home 2 National Awards in Patient Safety & Health Outcomes

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) recognizes community health centers that implement best practices.

July 11 2011 - Press Release

 

LITTLETON – Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc. (ACHS) Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC) team recently attended a PSPC Learning Session in Dallas, TX, where they were recognized with 2 national awards. 

The Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative is a new national collaborative of community health centers to improve the quality of health care across America by integrating evidence-based clinical pharmacy services into the care and management of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients. Teams from nearly 100 community health centers across the country, including Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc. are involved in the collaborative.

Each team through collaboration and coaching from Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) has developed its own unique approach to this challenge. HRSA coordinates an annual conference to share the results and develop best practices that can be used nationally in the over 1000 community health centers.

In its first 2 years, PSPC teams have focused on small panels of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients whose needs are beyond the reach of the current, traditional delivery system. For example, ACHS worked with diabetic patients on 12 or more medications. In its third year, PSPC 3.0 will work to expand and spread to larger patient populations. HRSA recognized health care teams from across the nation who achieved dramatic improvements in patient safety and health outcomes as part of the PSPC.  

“PSPC teams are continuing to show significant improvements and results,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “They’re building on proven successes and sharing these with other teams to improve patient safety and health outcomes across the country.”

Ammonoosuc Community Health Services Inc. was one of 16 teams nationwide to receive the Clinical Pharmacy Services Improvement Award that implemented clinical pharmacy services and showed improvements in clinical pharmacy services and also one of 16 teams to receive the Health Outcome Management Award. This award is given to teams that reported health outcomes measures for at least 5 consecutive months, and are using the measures to manage their population of focus.

Founded in 1975, Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc. is a nonprofit community health center offering a network of affordable primary health services. Our programs promote and support the well-being of individuals and families by emphasizing preventive care and encouraging active participation in one’s own health.

ACHS serves 26 New Hampshire towns in northern Grafton and southern Coos counties and has sites located in Littleton, Franconia, Whitefield, Warren and Woodsville. Clinical teams, made up of doctors, nurse practitioners or physician assistants supported by nurses and medical assistants, provide comprehensive services on a sliding fee scale to nearly 10,000 patients. For more information about ACHS, visit www.ammonoosuc.org or call 444-2464. ACHS is accepting new patients, call the New Patient hotline at 1-866-201-5076.