NORWAY — The National Committee for Quality Assurance announced that Western Maine Pediatrics, Western Maine Family Practice and Oxford Hills Family Practice have received the NCQA’s highest level of recognition for patient care and cost efficiency.

The three groups received NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Level Three Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long?term, participative relationships.

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs.

To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Western Maine Pediatrics, Western Maine Family Practice and Oxford Hills Family Practice demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements. NCQA standards align with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

Western Maine Pediatrics, Western Maine Family Practice and Oxford Hills Family Practice are departments of Stephens Memorial Hospital.