SANTA BARBARA Sansum Clinic has been recognized for providing high-quality care to Medicare Advantage patients, the clinic announced in a press release Friday.
The Integrated Healthcare Association, a statewide nonprofit, recognizes physician organizations that achieve a 4.5- or 5-star rating. Sansum Clinic attained a 4.5 star rating out of a possible 5 stars for 2017-18 and was the only medical group in Santa Barbara to earn 4.5 stars, according to the release.
“This achievement indicates a high level of commitment to our patients. We are dedicated to providing them with excellent medical care, performance measurement and continual improvement,” said Dr. Marjorie Newman, Sansum’s medical director.
The 2018 IHA ratings included 178 physician organizations across the state, based on how well they provided care in 2017 to California seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage health plans. Other well-respected medical groups that scored high in California include Sutter Medical Foundation, UC Davis Medical Group and UCLA Medical Group, according to the release.
To rate the physician organizations, the IHA evaluated member experience, customer service and clinical quality using 12 measures ranging from cancer screening rates and diabetes care to eye exams and blood sugar control. IHA’s reporting of these results allows for targeting quality improvement initiatives by health plans, public recognition of high-performing organizations and increased transparency through public reporting in partnership with the California Office of the Patient Advocate.
