Heritage gets a perfect score

COEUR d’ALENE — Heritage Health was recently audited by the Health Resources and Services Administration and received a glowing review for compliance with federal regulations.

The audit was initiated on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Heritage Health received marks showing 100 percent compliance with more than 135 individual elements.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Heritage Health is subject to these types of reviews at least once every three years, the clinic said in a press release.

The reviews are designed to evaluate a health center’s compliance with federal guidelines in the services it offers, the structure of management, financial health, and the innovative services offered to its target population.

“These reviews are a great way for us to receive feedback on areas where we excel and areas where we can improve. Getting a score of 100 percent is just a great feeling for all of us,” said Mike Baker, CEO of Heritage Health. “It’s also a great message to our patients and the community that we are careful stewards of the grants we receive.”

Community Health Centers like Heritage Health meet the primary healthcare needs for more than 24 million patients in 9,000 locations across the country. Each health center tailors its approach to the needs of the community it serves.

With a local approach to healthcare and a focus on comprehensive primary and preventative care, these centers generate approximately $24 billion in annual savings to the healthcare system for taxpayers at the local, state and federal levels.

“We have always known we are on the cutting edge of the new healthcare model — bringing community resources together to provide a comprehensive solution for the patient. Now we know we are setting the standard for community health centers across the nation,” Baker said.