Neponset’s Family Practice delivers quality comprehensive health care the way it was meant to be

Eleni Kontogli

Neponset Health Center officially opened the doors of its new Family Practice Department in February, further continuing its mission to deliver quality comprehensive health care to individuals and families in the community.

In 1969, family medicine became a popular medical specialty, particularly among immigrant populations whom the practice reminded of the family-centered care they trusted from their countries of origin. Nearly 40 years later, this model of care has continued to grow in popularity among individuals and families — in 2006, one in four office visits were made to family practitioners.

The American Academy of Family Physicians defines family medicine as “the medical specialty which provides continuing, comprehensive healthcare for the individual and family. It is a specialty in breadth that integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system and every disease entity.”

The focus of the family provider is the health of the individual and the family. There are no restrictions in terms of the patient’s age, and the practitioner is well trained to diagnose and address all types of healthcare issues. Our motto and belief at Neponset Health Center’s Family Practice is that the health of a family can be enhanced when all of its members are seen by one primary care provider. Studies have indicated that this is not only a popular model of care, but also a cost-effective one as well — Americans can save over $60 billion in medical costs by having access to primary care.

Family providers offer a more personalized approach to treatment, with the patient taking center stage. The care a patient receives is more integrative and proactive, with the provider playing the role of a medical expert and care coordinator delivering seamless healing. It allows the patient to access services, treatment and knowledge necessary to live a healthier life and effectively manage chronic diseases.

Neponset Health Center’s Family Practice, as well as all the center’s clinical departments, is gearing up to be totally immersed in utilizing electronic medical records (EMR). This transition will improve quality of care delivered, reduce medical errors and allow family practitioners access to information needed for patient care. No more missed reports or labs, and better and safer delivery of patient care.

Providers at Neponset Health Center’s Family Practice are part of a large clinical and administrative team that follows tested and established processes and procedures that lead to improvements in the quality of care and the safety of our patients. The type of care delivered is the sum of individual disciplines coming together, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse case managers, behaviorists, clinical pharmacists, health educators and nutritionists, brilliantly orchestrated by a single point provider—the family practitioner.

For more information about the Family Practice Department at Neponset Health Center, please call 617-282-3200.

Eleni Kontogli, M.B.A., M.Ed., is the marketing director of Neponset Health Center, a division of Harbor Health Services Inc.