BlueSky Health Designated by BCBSM for 3rd Consecutive Year

(Houghton, MI) BlueSky Health has been selected as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) designated practice by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for the 2011 designation year.  It is the only health care practice in the Western U.P. region to be selected for the designation for the third consecutive year. 

"We are excited to continue to lead the PCMH effort in this region," said BlueSky Health founder Dr. Jeffrey Huotari.  "We are also pleased that, from the first time, both local hospitals had several clinics join us in working for and receiving this designation.  It is our hope that with continued effort, each clinic and physician in our region can achieve the patient-centered changes necessary to receive this status."

Dr. Kimberly Dovin and Dr. Jeffrey Huotari, BlueSky Health's physicians, were also each individually selected as PCMH designated providers for the third consecutive year, which is the longest duration for any physicians in the region. 

According to Dr. Huotari, a patient-centered medical home is a medical clinic that has committed to changing the delivery of care to a proactive, coordinated experience that places a patient and their personal physician or care team in charge of all care delivered.  It leverages technology to improve efficiency, and access and quality are core features. 

BlueSky Health implemented the model in 2006.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has endorsed the model as the desired method of primary care for its members since 2009 when the designation program began.

More information can be found at blueskyhealth.org and bcbsm.com.

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