HICKORY, NC – August 18, 2015 — Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) announces that it has recently
earned the 2014 UnitedHealthcare PATH Excellence in Patient Service Award.
The PATH program was developed by UnitedHealthcare to help improve outcomes
for its Medicare Advantage members by encouraging greater use of preventive
health care services. The PATH Excellence in Service Award is based on
clinical results that measure how successfully practices have closed gaps
in patient care.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer
than half of adults 65 and older are up to date with their core preventive
services, despite the fact that nearly all of these services are covered
by Medicare and Medicaid,” notes Sam Ho, MD, Chief Medical Officer
of UnitedHealthcare. “We’re grateful for CVMC’s efforts
to close gaps in care for our Medicare Advantage members by encouraging
them to come in for annual visits and to get recommended screenings. We
appreciate the collaboration in helping our members become engaged with
their preventive health care.”
Through the PATH program physicians track and identify gaps in patients’
care with the goal of improving health outcomes. Physicians who meet the
PATH program’s clinical and quality goals for patient health outcomes
are recognized annually for their efforts. CVMC was among approximately
1,000 practices nationwide that successfully met the program’s goals.
“At the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is patient
outcomes,” says Tony Rose, CVMC President and Chief Executive Officer.
“PATH does require extra steps, but the results make it worth it.
We get to know our Medicare Advantage patients better, and our relationships
with them are stronger. And that makes for a better experience for these
patients.”