ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – Hardin Memorial Health (HMH) announced today that the HMH Medical Group, comprised of more than 200 physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APC), received a perfect score on the most recent federal Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The distinction from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes physicians and physician groups that meet and exceed key preventative standards in four categories: quality, resource use, clinical practice improvement activities and meaningful use of an electronic health record (EHR) system.
HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson called the news yet another confirmation about the caliber of HMH providers.
“Our strategy to recruit and retain the very best physicians and advanced practice clinicians, highly skilled and caring professionals who practice the latest or evidence-based medicine, reaps big rewards,” said Johnson. “This amazing MIPS achievement proves our entire team does their very best for every patient, every day.”
Medical Director of the HMH Medical Group Dr. Tom Hustead, M.D. agreed and said the rating results from a holistic and integrated patient care approach.
“It takes total team commitment to accomplish something of this magnitude,” said Hustead. ”Our primary care practices, our specialty clinics and our hospital staff all are applying the very best evidence-based practices to every patient case.”
Hustead pointed to several factors that contributed to the perfect rating including HMH’s use of nurse navigators to help coordinate patient care.
“Understanding and managing your illness and care can be overwhelming,” said Hustead. “Our nurse navigators help patients understand and manage all the critical factors including medication compliance, follow up appointments, support services necessary and much more.
Hustead also touted HMH’s transitional care management team who ensure discharged patients are scheduled to see their primary care provider and any specialists they need for optimized healing and outcomes.
Hustead, also a primary care physician at HMH’s Cool Springs Family Medicine, said he sees firsthand the impact of the transitional care team.
“They are instrumental in making sure patients stay on the road to recovery,” he said.
Hustead said HMH’s effective use of electronic health records (EHR) also contributed to the perfect MIPS score.
“Sometimes patients don’t mention important parts of their medical history and these omissions can dramatically impact their treatment plan,” said Hustead. “Electronic health records help our providers piece together the total picture even when information is missing”.
Hustead said the use of EHRs also aid in preventative care, flagging records of patients who need screenings or vaccinations.
“Whether it is diabetic blood sugar control, screening mammograms or pneumonia shots for elderly patients, EHR’s aid in disease prevention and disease management,” said Hustead. “Everything we do should help keep our patients healthy and out of our hospital.”
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