HIGH POINT, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cornerstone Health Care announced that it will participate with Aetna (AET) in the health benefits company's national Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program.

The program recognizes primary care physicians who more actively coordinate and manage their patients' care across the health care system. By strengthening the role of primary care doctors, the PCMH program aims to improve patient health outcomes.

"We are pleased to receive this opportunity to collaborate with Aetna," said Grace E. Terrell, M.D., president and CEO of Cornerstone. "Each of our 29 primary care practices has been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. The Aetna program acknowledges that these practices are enhancing care and decreasing costs as a result of this designation."

"Aetna believes strongly in the value of patient-centered care," said Elizabeth Curran, head of National Network Strategy and Program Development for Aetna. "Our PCMH program rewards physicians who focus on the patients' entire health needs, not just on a single condition. The program is one more way we are moving to a system that rewards quality outcomes, and away from a system that rewards quantity."

Aetna believes the PCMH approach may help its members experience better health, fewer hospitalizations, improvements in transitions of care, and greater engagement, Curran added.

Cornerstone's NCQA-recognized PCMH practices are recognized for providing a number of enhanced services, including improved access to care, proactive and planned preventive care, coordination of care with nurses and other members of the treatment team.

The Cornerstone practices recognized by the NCQA as Patient-Centered Medical Homes include: Advance Pediatrics, Brookview Hills Internal Medicine, Carolina Primary Medicine, Cornerstone Family Medicine at Archdale, Cornerstone Family Medicine at Trinity, Cornerstone Family Practice at Summerfield, Cornerstone Internal Medicine at Jamestown, Cornerstone Internal Medicine at Premier, Cornerstone Internal Medicine at Westchester, Cornerstone Pediatric Associates at Kernersville, Cornerstone Pediatrics at Premier, Cornerstone Pediatrics at Westchester, Cornerstone Premier Care, Deep River Family Medicine, Deep River Health and Wellness, Emerywood Medical Specialties, Family and Community Medicine of Asheboro, Ford, Simpson, Lively & Rice Pediatrics, High Point Family Practice, Lucas Pediatrics, Piedmont Centre Family and Sports Medicine, Piedmont Internal Medicine, Thomasville Family Practice Associates, and Total Family Care of Winston-Salem, Medical Arts Clinic, Springs Road Family Practice, Generations Family Medicine and Aesthetics, Conover Family Practice, and Granite Falls Primary Care Physicians.

About Cornerstone Health Care

Cornerstone Health Care is a group of more than 300 physicians and mid-level health professionals representing a wide range of specialties. The physician-owned and managed multi-disciplinary practice has over 80 locations in communities throughout central North Carolina. One of the fastest growing physician groups in the Southeast, Cornerstone is transitioning from the traditional "fee-for-service" model to a patient-centered medical home system providing expanded access, increased coordination of care, enhanced patient education for prevention and treatment of chronic disease, and sophisticated technological support. For more information visit http://www.cornerstonehealth.com.

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Cornerstone Health Care Will Participate in Aetna’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Program