Editor's note: submitted by the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

(MSC News)- HCH Family Practice and HCH Highland Clinic have been awarded $12,000 in funds from Compass PTN: Supporting Quality in Action Initiative for being recognized as a Pinnacle Practice.

The American healthcare system is transforming from a volume-based reimbursement model to a model focused on the value of care provided. For all clinicians, the ability to provide high quality care resulting in improved patient outcomes is crucial to future reimbursement. In an effort to encourage clinicians to move towards value-based care, legislation has recently been implemented that rewards those who can demonstrate they provide quality care. This determination is based upon patient outcomes. Clinicians who are identified as providing high-value care are then rewarded through reimbursement for services provided.

The Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPi) is a federal program that provides clinicians with resource to equip them to thrive in this value-based reimbursement system. The Compass Practice Transformation Network (PTN) is executing TCPi locally. Through participation in TCPi, Compass PTN participants have advanced through five transformation stages that include the introduction of clinic-level performance improvement initiatives and the utilization of data to drive change. These efforts have ultimately improved the care delivery system. Practices have also engaged patients and communities as partners to improve both quality and patient safety.

The Compass Practice Transformation Network (Compass PTN) supports more than 7,000 clinicians across six states – Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota – who are committed to expanding quality improvement capacity in their primary and specialty care practices, share clinical best practices and achieve common goals of improved care, better health and reduced cost.

HCH Family Practice and HCH Highland Clinic were one of five practices recognized by Compass PTN as a Pinnacle Practice. Congratulations to our providers and staff for their continued dedication to provide quality care.