Old Hook Medical Associates Putting Patients First

When primary care physicians are responsible for coordinating patient care and healthcare services, good things happen. New Jersey is once again in the forefront of positive changes in the healthcare delivery system.

Through its Patient-Centered Medical Home, Old Hook MedicalAssociates (OHM) is taking part in a pilot program with Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield that has already reduced Emergency Department visits by 26% andlowered medical costs by 10%. The program has also led to better diabetescontrol among patients and a higher level of patient compliance with screeningtests. Horizon states that the program has already been so successful that it willbe expanded to approximately 200,000 patients by the end of 2012.

Many medical practices have made major investments in information technologyto implement Electronic Health Records that can be shared by all physiciansin the group. Today’s well-informed patients also seek practices with an onlinePatient Portal where patients can securely access their records 24/7 from anycomputer.

OHM continues to put patients first through joining the Hackensack Physician-Hospital Alliance based at Hackensack University Medical Center. This allianceis one of only three Accountable Care Organizations approved by Medicare inNew Jersey. This collaboration relies on the group’s ability to process patientdata such as preventive care measures such as flu shots and cancer screeningsand helps identify high-risk patients in need of more careful monitoring. Theprogram complies with the spirit of health care reform which will migratephysician payment away from fee-for-service and into a system which is morecost effective and patient focused.

Old Hook Medical Associates is a multi-specialty healthcare practice andPatient-Centered Medical Home where primary care, specialty physicians, nursepractitioners, and other medical professionals work together under one roof.Through an environment of close cooperation among colleagues, coupled witha cutting edge system of electronic health records, Old Hook Medical deliversoutstanding medical care to residents of Bergen and Rockland counties.