RUHS Community Health Centers earn national awards for quality patient care

The federal agency responsible for improving access to health services for uninsured and medically vulnerable people has awarded top honors to Riverside University Health System (RUHS) for delivering high-quality healthcare and improved patient outcomes.

Each year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reviews the performance of community health centers that meet its Health Center Program requirements. Health centers that demonstrate notable quality achievements in a variety of health measures are awarded Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges.

This year and for the first time, HRSA has honored RUHS with four CHQR Badges, including one for being in the nation’s top 20% of health centers providing high-quality patient care in areas such as behavioral health, heart health and diabetes health. RUHS is the largest health center network based in the Inland Empire, by patient volume, to earn four CHQR badges.

Dr. Shunling Tsang, medical director of ambulatory quality for RUHS, said CHQR badges are the most prestigious awards health centers can earn.

“These badges are considered Oscars for health centers nationally. We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to providing first-rate healthcare to the underserved populations of Riverside County,” Dr. Tsang said.

RUHS earned the following CHQR Badges:

• Health Center Quality Leader (Silver): For being in the nation’s top 20% of health centers providing high-quality patient care in areas such as behavioral health, heart health and diabetes health.
• Access Enhancer: For increasing the number of patients who receive services by 5%.
• Health Disparities Reducer: For demonstrating improvements in chronic disease and/or birth outcomes for at least one racial/ethnic group OR meeting established benchmarks for all racial/ethnic groups.
• Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality: For optimizing Health Information Technology services by adopting an electronic health record (EHR) system, offering telehealth services, exchanging clinical information electronically with key providers, engaging patients through health information technology and collecting data on patient social risk factors.

Not only has RUHS improved its delivery of service and patient outcomes – it managed to do so during a global pandemic

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been an extraordinary trial for the entire world, and perhaps no one has felt pressure more keenly than healthcare workers. Despite trials and uncertainty, RUHS employees have shown an extraordinary devotion to excellence,” Dr. Tsang said.

RUHS operates 14 health centers across Riverside County. The network of health centers provided care to nearly 78,000 Riverside County residents last year in one of the nation’s largest counties.

To see the data behind these notable achievements, visit https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/data-reporting/program-data?grantNum=H80CS28990.