Fort Lauderdale, FL--Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center (CDTC) was awarded Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). CDTC received this distinction for following a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care and patients' experience of care, as well as reduce costs.
CDTC has been offering hope and support to women, infants, children and youth with special healthcare needs in Broward County for more than three decades. The Center has several programs that provide comprehensive medical care, care coordination, dental services, health education, nutrition, and early intervention services to more than 11,000 patients each year.
The establishment of a comprehensive, one-stop resource for care to the entire family has allowed CDTC to help transform the lives of special needs patients so they may live healthy and productive lives. The care and support of their CDTC team impacts the health of children, as well as the lives of every member of their families.
“CDTC is thrilled that our doctors and staff have achieved NCQA’s highest level of recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home,” said CDTC Executive Director Ana Calderon Randazzo, Ph.D. “The PCMH endeavor at CDTC has resulted in our patients experiencing greater health outcomes and overall increased patient satisfaction. Our staff is better trained and more engaged. Greater efficiencies have been created due to the high level of team-based care. Putting the best practices in place ensures the best care for our families and reflects the CDTC’s vision of going ‘Beyond Medicine, Into the Heart of Care.’”
Physicians and care coordinators at CDTC work together to help patients achieve the best health outcomes possible. This means not only providing top-notch care but providing care that is better coordinated, comprehensive, and personalized. CDTC also helps to break down barriers that may prevent families from receiving treatment. These barriers range from knowledge of the healthcare system and insurance to other immediate personal issues such as transportation, housing and food scarcity. CDTC’s teams have built a community network to help families navigate many of these issues.
To earn PCMH recognition, which is valid for three years, CDTC demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that CDTC has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”