March 7, 2018 / Baltimore Medical System Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION:
March 2, 2018 Liz Kaylor (BMS): (443) 703-33452
Samantha Miller (HRSA): (301) 443-9094
BALTIMORE MEDICAL SYSTEM EARNS RECOGNITION AS A NATIONAL QUALITY LEADER
BALTIMORE, MD – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized Baltimore Medical System (BMS) as a National Quality Leader, placing BMS among the top 3.4% of the nearly 1,400 HRSA-supported health centers based on key clinical quality measures. National Quality Leaders exceeded national clinical quality benchmarks, Healthy People 2020 goals or critical thresholds above health center national averages in chronic disease management, preventive care, and/or perinatal/prenatal care.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. “HRSA Health Center Program grantees serve as clinical quality leaders in the field of primary care,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D. “As part of our agency’s commitment to recognize clinical quality resulting in improved patient outcomes, HRSA is proud to present a National Quality Leader Certificate to the Baltimore Medical System, a center that exemplifies why health centers are increasingly becoming the providers of choice.”
Nearly 26 million people – 1 in 12 nationwide – rely on a HRSA-funded health center for affordable, accessible, patient-centered primary health care. Health centers advance a model of coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care, integrating a wide range of medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder, and patient support services. Grantees received recognition based on the latest HRSA Quality Improvement Awards.
In 2017, BMS provided healthcare services to almost 50,000 patients in Baltimore City and Baltimore County delivering affordable, accessible, cost-effective, and quality primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. “BMS has been in the Baltimore community for 34 years serving as a safety-net for individuals, families and children providing healthcare where our patients live and go to school,” said Shirley Sutton, BMS CEO and President. “We are committed to quality care that produces results and will impact the lives of our patients for today and future generations.”
BMS CEO Shirley Sutton and HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D
About BMS
Baltimore Medical System (BMS) is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system in Maryland. BMS operates six health centers, four pharmacies and eight school-based health sites serving almost 50,000 patients, including underserved and uninsured annually. BMS patients receive Patient-Centered Medical Home care, a team-based approach using evidence-based medicine to meet a patient’s physical and mental health needs.
About HRSA
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable.
