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Lifetime Health Earns Highest Rating for Patient-Centered Care

Lifetime Health Medical Group recently received recognition as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Level 3 is the agency’s highest designation, and it was awarded to Lifetime’s Perinton Health Center in Rochester and the Amherst, Mosher and West Seneca Health Centers in Buffalo. Only 264 primary care practices in New York State are currently recognized as Level 3 Patient- Centered Medical Homes, and less than 1,000 practices in the U.S. have the distinction.

“We’re honored to join an elite group of primary care providers to achieve this level of recognition,” says Anne Ruflin, president of Lifetime Health Medical Group.

Patient-centered means that you come first. Medical home means that we are here to help you meet your health care needs, from coordinating your preventive and acute care, to helping you manage your chronic conditions.

"This recognition acknowledges both our commitment to quality and our guiding principle of putting patients first,” says Mark F. Perry, M.D., chief medical officer, Lifetime Health Medical Group.

In a patient-centered medical home, your doctor leads a team of health care professionals to coordinate and provide your total health care - and you are at the center of the team. Team members may include nurses, pharmacists, specialists, plus those who help with scheduling appointments, billing or insurance needs. The team changes as your needs change. We work in partnership with you to help you meet your health care goals and make informed decisions about your care.

You have access to your team in a variety of ways: by telephone and secure online messaging, with flexible, same-day appointments, a 24-hour nurse advice line, expanded hours (including Urgent Care by Lifetime Health) and use of electronic medical records and electronic prescribing.

All of Lifetime Health’s practices work in health care teams, and all locations received Level 1 patient-centered medical home recognition in 2010. We expect our eight additional locations to achieve Level 3 later this year.

At Lifetime Health, we are accountable to you. We listen to you, keep you involved and help you through the health care system. You provide the feedback to improve how we assist you in your health care. You leave our office with a plan to stay healthy.

Your medical home brings you, your family and your team together to help you make the best health care decisions for your needs.