Area health hubs recognized as leading patient-centered medical homes.

PORTSMOUTH AND SOMERSWORTH - Families First Health and Support Center and Goodwin Community Health, operating together as Greater Seacoast Community Health, have once again earned national recognition as Patient-Centered Medical Homes.

The recognition is awarded by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private nonprofit organization focused on improving health care quality. Families First and Goodwin have each received this recognition consistently for the past 15 years.

A Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of care that puts patients at the center of their health care team. To earn the recognition, the practices had to meet dozens of criteria in six categories: Team-Based Care and Practice Organization, Knowing and Managing Patients, Patient-Centered Access and Continuity, Care Management and Support, Care Coordination and Care Transitions, and Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement.

To support their patient-centered approach, Families First and Goodwin have worked to improve the tools and systems used by patients and staff while strengthening relationships between patients, providers, and the many services offered at both health centers. The goal is to improve communication, make care easier to navigate, and increase patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Greater Seacoast Community Health is a network of community health centers offering primary care, pediatrics, dental care, prenatal care, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder treatment, mobile health services, WIC, social work services, pharmacy services, parenting classes, playgroups, and home visiting programs. Services are open to everyone. For more information, visit GetCommunityHealth.org.