SVMC Primary Care offices recognized for patient-centered care

BENNINGTON, VT—December 13, 2024—Five primary care sites of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, have achieved national recognition for providing personalized, effective, and efficient care.

The following medical practices, located in Vermont, have been re-designated as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA):

• SVMC Northshire Campus
• Deerfield Valley Health Center
• Pownal Campus
• SVMC Internal Medicine
• SVMC Pediatrics

The national designation recognizes SVMC’s practice sites for providing comprehensive care and follow-up, in addition to a number of preventative and wellness screenings.

 “Each of SVMC’s practice sites follow stringent set of guidelines that allows our staff to meet the criteria and ensures our providers, clinical and support staff give every primary care patient the care and follow-up they need, as well as options and appropriate screenings for a multitude of concerns,” said Tina Gallant, CMPE, director of SVMC’s Primary Care Medical Practices. “It’s also a testament to the importance of our Community Health Team members who provide our patients with nurse case management, certified diabetic education and mental health and social services.”

According to NCQA, research shows that PCMHs improve quality and the patient experience, and increase staff satisfaction—while reducing health care costs. The PCMH program identifies practices that promote partnerships between individual patients and their personal clinicians. A team of doctors, nurses, and other allied health providers oversees each patient’s care, ensuring health needs are coordinated across the health care system.

Practices must resubmit for consideration every year. SVMC’s Twin Rivers Medical office, located in New York, falls under a different evaluation system, separate from the NCQA guidelines.

“National recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home is an outstanding accomplishment by the staff, doctors, and advanced practice providers at our primary care practices,” said Trey Dobson, MD, SVMC Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Services. “As we continue to focus on primary care provider recruitment and expanding access to our rural communities, this and similar awards demonstrate SVMC’s commitment to exceptional health care.”

Learn more about SVMC’s primary care services here.

About SVMC:

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVMC includes the Dartmouth Cancer Center at SVMC, the SVHC Foundation, as well as 25 primary and specialty care practices. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. SVMC provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

About NCQA:

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers, and researchers.