Meridian Medical Associates Chosen As Area's Only Medical Home.

The nation's largest medical insurance carrier, in a proactive move toward health care reform, has designated Meridian Medical Associates in Joliet, IL as the area's only "Medical Home." The free program focuses on prevention through individualized guidance for patients with chronic conditions such as Asthma, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Diabetes. "We are contacting patients who meet the criteria, and helping them comply with medication, office visits, dietary and exercise guidance. Everything they need to keep patients well and out of emergency rooms," said Diane Ringer, Medical Home Coordinator. She and Deborah Hansen, RN, Case Manager for the program, work one-on-one with patients and their physicians to keep them well, and prevent health crises.

"We are proud to be part of a program that is setting the bar for patient care, but let's us retain the personal attention to each individual," said Ramesh Viswanathan, MD, an internal medicine physician with Meridian Medical Associates who is familiar with the program. For the program, the insurance carrier partners with medical groups that offer vast diagnostic and treatment resources on-site and other indicators of good care, such as recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA recognized Meridian Medical Associates in 2009 for its comprehensive care of diabetic patients.