Presbyterian | Summer 2019 | Your Story

Presbyterian Centennial Care wants to ensure that our members receive quality care and services. We have a Quality Improvement Program (QI Program) that reviews the care and services that you receive. The QI Program includes: ● ● Annual goals, processes, and activities ● ● Quality and safety of clinical care review ● ● Quality of service initiatives ● ● Member experience activities As part of our QI Program, we seek health plan accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA is a private, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that works to improve healthcare quality. Accredited health plans must meet more than 51 standards. The NCQA standards focus on: ● ● Quality improvement and management ● ● Population health management ● ● Utilization management ● ● Credentialing of healthcare practitioners and providers ● ● Member rights and responsibilities ● ● Member engagement and satisfaction Clear your head of allergy symptoms Do you sneeze and sniffle whether or not you’re sick? That could mean you’re one of the 50 million Americans with allergies. Allergies can affect your eyes, nose, mouth, throat, and skin. They’re a sign that your immune system is overreacting to something around you. Plant pollen is one of the most common triggers. Others include: • Mold • Dust mites • Pet dander Allergies might come and go with the seasons. Or they may last all year long. They can cause ear and sinus infections or asthma flare-ups too. Your doctor can help You may find relief with over-the-counter treatments. Saline nasal sprays, for instance, can help moisten the airways in your nose. Other options include decongestants and antihistamines. But talk with your doctor first. Some of these medicines have side effects, such as drowsiness. And some should be used only for a short time. Others shouldn’t be used at all by people with high blood pressure or heart disease. What you can do You can take steps on your own to feel better too. First, try to avoid things that trigger your allergies. For instance, yardwork can send pollen and mold into the air and up your nose. Ask someone else to mow the grass or rake up leaves. Keep an eye on pollen and mold levels too. Go to www.morehealth.org/ allergies f or daily pollen and mold counts. When counts are high, stay indoors and keep your windows closed. Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; U.S. Food and Drug Administration All Presbyterian Health Plan products were successfully accredited in 2018. Please contact the Presbyterian Customer Service Center at (505) 923-5200 or 1-888-977-2333 to learn more about the QI Program. Presbyterian’s Quality Improvement Program www.phs.org/centennialcare 5