(Chicago) - Rush Health Associates (RHA) is the first provider organization in the Chicago area to receive Disease Management Program Design Certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA Certification is an indication that a disease management program has passed rigorous review in a specific area, either program design, patient contact or disease management systems.

RHA is a not-for-profit organization whose members include Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital, and approximately 700 physicians who practice at these hospital locations.

RHA’s certification applies to its programs in asthma, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension.

“Seeking and obtaining NCQA recognition reflects RHA’s commitment to clinical excellence, and demonstrates our ability to integrate treatment guidelines for the care of patients with chronic medical conditions throughout a process that supports clinical performance improvement”, says Dr. Catherine Dimou, Medical Director, Rush Health Associates.

“Disease management offers tremendous promise for improving the care received by the chronically ill. By achieving NCQA DM certification, an organization is showing that it is ready to provide specific services that can help fulfill that promise”, Margaret E. O’Kane, President, NCQA.

“Disease Management certification offers an additional tool for comparing RHA physicians to other providers in the Chicago area. This allows employers and individual consumers to make health care purchasing decisions based on a demonstrated commitment to quality”, says Brent J. Estes, President and CEO, Rush Health Associates. “Integrating patient care by working with both physicians and patients is a key component to ensuring clinical excellence”.

RHA is also certified by NCQA as a Credentials Verification Organization.

NCQA has reviewed and certified RHA’s Program Design capability. For complete details on the scope of this review, visit www.RushHealthAssociates.com.

NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assessing and reporting on the quality of managed care plans, managed behavioral health care organizations, preferred provider organizations, new health plans, physician organizations, credentials verification, disease management and other health related programs. For more information on NCQA, visit www.NCQA.org.