The physicians and staff of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation are committed to providing an exceptional experience for every patient, every time. This shared ambition generates results that are recognized outside of our clinic walls. The list of awards, accreditations and achievements from 2011 to 2012 are points of pride that demonstrate our collective commitment to our patients and to excellence in health care.
PAMF received a three–year accreditation from the Institute of Medical Quality’s Ambulatory Program in 2010. Recognized by the Medical Board of California, many liability carriers, workers’ compensation and insurers, IMQ’s Ambulatory Program was designed to promote quality care and assure compliance with government regulations.
For the eighth consecutive year, the Integrated Healthcare Association named PAMF as one of the most outstanding physician groups in California based on its Pay-for-Performance program. In overall performance, PAMF was named a “top performer” in patient experience, information technology and clinical quality (in areas such as cancer screenings, immunizations and diabetes care), ranking in the 99th percentile – and No. 2 in the state.
Richard Slavin, M.D., CEO of PAMF, has pledged that we will deliver an exceptional experience – every patient, every time.
PAMF is currently rated four out of four stars by the California Office of the Patient Advocate in a statewide assessment of all medical groups. Medical groups are ranked in two categories: meeting national standards of care, and patient ratings. The OPA, an independent state office in conjunction with the Department of Managed Health Care, was created to represent the interests of health plan members to get the care they deserve and to promote transparency and quality health care by publishing an annual Quality of Care Report Card.
In 2011, the California Association of Physician Groups rated PAMF as “elite” in its annual Standards of Excellence survey, which evaluates medical groups across California for “the infrastructure of a health care organization … the tools, people and processes” needed to deliver high-quality, affordable care and a positive patient experience. Four areas are assessed, including care management, health information technology, accountability and transparency, and patient-centered care.
More than 70 percent of PAMF’s patients are now using My Health Online (formerly known as PAMF Online). In 2012 access was enhanced with the creation and implementation of the My Health Online mobile formats via the MyChart app on both Android and Apple devices.
In January 2011, PAMF’s Research Institute piloted an innovative program using Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) to promote weight loss. Latha Palaniappan, M.D., an associate investigator at the Institute, and her research team carefully studied the specialized SMAs for more than two years. The findings from this study were published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
In 2011 PAMF became one of the first oncology practices in the country recognized by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer.
PAMF’s Vascular Center in Mountain View was recognized in 2011 for its commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories.
The Sutter Health President’s Award was given to PAMF in 2011 to recognize outstanding performance in the areas of clinical quality, service excellence, community benefit and charity care, employee and physician satisfaction, targeted growth and financial health.
In October 2011, the California Department of Managed Health Care honored PAMF’s Mills-Peninsula Division with the Right Cove Initiative’s gold level of achievement for meeting or exceeding standards for controlling their patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular conditions to ensure their best possible health. The Mills-Peninsula Division was one of only 11 medical groups statewide that met the gold level of achievement – reaching the national 90th percentile target for performance in cardiovascular and diabetes measures.
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine awarded the 2011 Hilary E.C. Millar Award for Innovative Approaches to Adolescent Health Care to the PAMF Wellness Assessment for Youth To Get Organized Program – known as WAY2GO!.
The philanthropy department regularly hosts events that allow us to recognize the important philanthropic contributions of community members.
PAMF Santa Cruz and Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center were presented with the 2011 “Champions for Children” award by the California Children’s Health Initiatives, in recognition of more than $1.4 million of support for local children’s health coverage programs since Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County was established in 2003.
One of PAMF’s newest facilities, the medical office building at 49 Wells in Palo Alto, was awarded LEED Gold certification for superior green design in August 2011. The 17,000-square-foot building houses the Breast Imaging Center, Encina Practice and Executive Health Program.
PAMF’s HMR (Health Management Resources) weight management program team was recognized in 2012 by the HMR parent organization with 10 Gold Standard awards for excellence in performance and patient care. It was the 16th consecutive year PAMF’s program earned Gold Standard awards from HMR.
In January 2012, PAMF and Marvell Technology Group, an international semiconductor company, launched a unique on-site wellness program at Marvell’s Santa Clara location to help make it easier for employees at the company to take care of their health at work. PAMF’s Employer Services team provides regular monthly lunchtime lectures to Marvell’s staff and has participated in the company’s health fairs as a vendor for the past three years.
PAMF’s David Druker Center for Health Systems Innovation launched its linkAges™ Successful Aging Program with a community education and developer event in April 2012. PAMF’s linkAges initiative is pioneering new ways to support seniors in the community to live a meaningful life and to age in place. More than 300 developers and leaders in the community, high tech and government attended the event.
Expanding on the successful Palliative Care and Support Services program launched at the Santa Cruz Center, PAMF added Palliative Care services to its Palo Alto Center in June 2012. Services will be offered in the Mountain View area later in 2012, and the goal is to expand Palliative Care services to include San Mateo and Alameda counties in 2013.
In June 2012, Cigna and PAMF launched a collaborative accountable care initiative to expand patient access to health care, improve care coordination, and achieve the “triple aim” of improved health outcomes (quality), lower total medical costs and increased patient satisfaction. This patient-centered collaboration was Cigna’s first accountable care initiative in California.
When the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics came to San Jose, PAMF physicians provided local medical support for the competing gymnasts, gymnastics officials and coaches.
PAMF and Avenidas Village, an aging-in-place program in Mountain View, partnered on a first-ever “Successful Aging Celebration” community educational event for seniors in July 2012.
In addition to providing their time, talent and services to community outreach initiatives, PAMF physicians are also our biggest philanthropy champions.
Sharon Tapper, M.D., regional director of Inpatient Palliative Care for Sutter Health’s Peninsula Coastal Region, and PAMF’s medical director and creator of outpatient Palliative Care and Support Services, was selected to the national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Innovation Advisors Program.