Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., achieved a major milestone recently, receiving the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) certification for the second consecutive time since becoming a clinic in 2007.

The Military Health System selected NCQA, a private, not-for-profit organization, to formally recognize military primary care practices as Patient Centered Medical Homes. NCQA is dedicated to improving health care quality and develops quality standards and performance measures for a broad range of health care entities.

The Military Health System's goal is for all 440 military primary care practices to be recognized as Level Two or Three. NHCCP received Level Three certification.

"The Level Three certification we obtained is the highest certification offered for Medical Home Ports and Clinical Services ... not just for Military Treatment Facilities, but for civilian medical practices as well," said Lt. Cmdr. Melody O'Connor, NHCCP's NCQA process owner and MHP assistant department head.

According to O'Connor, NHCCP achieved a phenomenal score of 99 out of 100 points, the highest in Navy Medicine to date.

"NCQA measures everything we do in regards to our MHP and Clinical Services," O'Connor said. "From the moment a patient makes that initial phone call to our appointment line, to when the patient walks out of our clinic with a needed prescription, we have to show how their visit aligns with the Bureau of Navy Medicine, Navy Medicine East and NHCCP policies, instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. It's an enormous amount of data to collect and submit to NCQA."

According to Lt. Cmdr. Mark Lund, Medical Home Port department head, "Our goal at NHCCP is to provide outstanding medical care and we do that every day. To be recognized nationally by the NCQA for all the work taking place behind the scenes in order to provide and coordinate care for our patients tells us we are meeting our mission."

"Our patients tell us through various feedback mechanisms such as the Interactive Customer Evaluation System and through mail-in surveys that they are receiving excellent care, and the NCQA certification is validation we are doing the right things when it comes to taking care of our patients," said NHCCP Commanding Officer, Capt. Angela Nimmo. "It is proof we meet the highest standards, not just among military treatment facilities but civilian hospitals and clinics as well. NCQA certification says a lot about an organization and it's truly a team effort. This recognition is only possible if everyone is doing their job at a superior level."

Named after Medal of Honor recipient, Pharmacist Mate Second Class William D. Halyburton, the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point provides high-quality patient care to more than 33,000 active-duty members and DOD beneficiaries. In addition to out-patient surgical services, NHCCP offers Medical Home Port (including family care and pediatrics), Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, Mental Health, Pharmacy services, Preventive Medicine, Aviation Medicine and Radiology to include MRIs.

For more news from Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point , visit www.navy.mil