HFSC Recertified as Patient Centered Specialty Practice for Parkinson’s Care
January 3, 2023NEW BRITAIN, Connecticut (January 3, 2023) – The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recertified the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) as a Patient Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) in Neurology. HFSC was the first organization to receive the PCSP designation in neurology in Connecticut when the organization initially received the designation in 2019.
“Parkinson’s Disease impacts many facets of a patient’s overall functioning and health,” said Kevin Felice, DO, FANA, Chief of the Department of Neuromuscular Medicine. Patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders may experience tremors, slowed movement, impaired balance, speech and swallowing difficulties, stiffness, mood changes and other symptoms.
“Our multidisciplinary approach to care brings all of the resources our patients need, from neurology to physical, occupational and speech therapy, nutritional consultation and social work into one coordinated care setting. Patient outcomes improve when all of the providers involved in their care understand their specific disease process and work together to support the patient’s individual goals,” said Dr. Felice.
The HFSC program, founded with support from a $1.2 million grant from the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, has created a comprehensive care team that includes occupational, physical and aquatic therapists, speech language pathologists, nurse care coordinators and other specially trained professionals including neurologists and physiatrists. The program also includes deep brain stimulation, clinical trials and research as well as LSVT BIG® , LSVT LOUD®, PWR!®, SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD® Crowd programs to help patients maintain or improve movement, function, breathing, and speech. Support and resource groups ensure both patients and their families connect with peers and other natural supports.
“Our centers of excellence for Parkinson’s and other neurological and movement disorders have advanced patient care and clinical research, as part of our growing investment in neuroscience innovation,” said Lynn Ricci, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of HFSC. “Philanthropic investors, including the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation and other forward-thinking donors have helped us maintain momentum even during the pandemic. We are extremely grateful to these investors and proud of the entire clinical and administrative team for this achievement.”
Practices recognized under Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition have demonstrated a commitment to patient-centered care and clinical quality through: streamlined referral processes and care coordination with referring clinicians, timely patient and caregiver-focused care management and continuous clinical quality improvement. Earning NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition shows consumers, private payers and government agencies that the practice has undergone a rigorous review of its capabilities and is committed to sharing information and coordinating care. Recognition also signals to primary care practices that the specialty practice is ready to be an effective partner in caring for patients.
About Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) is the fourth largest, free-standing long-term acute care hospital in the U.S. and one of only two in the nation serving adults and children. HFSC is recognized for advanced care and rehabilitation in pulmonary care, acquired brain injury, medically-complex pediatrics, neuromuscular disorders including ALS research, spinal cord injury, comprehensive heart failure and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
The HFSC Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center is a component of the HFSC Charles H. Kaman Foundation Neuromuscular Center at HFSC. For the latest news and information, please visit www.hfsc.org , and follow us on Facebook @HospitalforSpecialCare and Twitter @HospSpecialCare.
About NCQA
NCQA is a private, nonprofit 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’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.