2006 Priority Health Quality Award Winner

Western Michigan Pediatrics
"It's all in having a system," says Jane Post, office manager at Western Michigan Pediatrics. Accordingly, the entire staff from doctors to nurses to support staff uses a wide range of tools, including Priority Health's Patient Profile and MCIR, to stay on top of preventive health measures.

Ongoing staff training and consistent communication are also important parts of the picture. Nurses are assigned to specific doctors to create a common set of practices. "Doctors have different ways of reaching the same goal, and assuring consistent staff participation is one way to make sure we're covering all the bases with each patient and across the entire group," says Post.

Post allows herself a smile about asking all parents about smoking cessation during each and every visit. It can seem like "a little too much when patients may be back three days later for follow up", says Post, but she he understands and supports Priority Health's focus on preventive care. "Priority's measures are one of the tools we use to assure quality care to all of our patients, whether Priority Health members or not," Post says, "We're pleased to receive this recognition, but our focus is really on how well we treat patients."