As health care continues to shift from exam rooms to video screens, patients seeking quality treatment may increasingly wonder: How do you measure quality in a virtual setting?
With the evolution to virtual care came a need for objective standards to validate quality in virtual primary and urgent care. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently addressed this gap through its Virtual Care Accreditation, recognizing organizations that meet stringent standards in quality and patient safety, care coordination, patient and clinician experience, equitable access, and data sharing and exchange.
MD Live by Evernorth has met these benchmarks, becoming the first virtual care organization to earn this accreditation for both primary and urgent care in all 50 states. This milestone means that patients can feel confident they are receiving quality medical care from MD Live.
Spotlighting quality care
“We’ve always maintained rigorous standards in the delivery of our virtual care services,” said Dr. Maggie Williams, senior medical director of primary care for MD Live. “The NCQA accreditation is one more way we’re showing patients that quality, safety, and follow-through are built into every virtual visit – whether they’re coming in for a sore throat today or managing their blood pressure all year.”
Just like traditional, in-office care, MD Live’s virtual primary care creates an ongoing relationship – a place for patients seeking preventive care, routine health questions, and chronic condition support. MD Live’s virtual urgent care fills in the “I need help now” moments, even during evenings, weekends, travel days, and everything in between.
Earning accreditation in both areas demonstrates MD Live has met NCQA standards across the virtual care experience – from the visits themselves to the behind-the-scenes processes including triage, evidence-based clinical protocols, follow-up, recordkeeping, referrals, and care coordination.
"Earning NCQA Virtual Care Accreditation reflects MD Live’s commitment to meeting nationally recognized standards for high‑quality virtual care,” said Dr. Vivek K. Garg, president and CEO of NCQA. “This achievement demonstrates MD Live’s ability to deliver patient-centered care through well‑defined governance and consistent operational practices that also support reliable access, accountability, and continuous quality improvement.”
Confidence in care delivery, coast to coast
MD Live and its clinical partners give its 52 million+ members access to a practice group of 2,400 board-certified clinicians, secure technology, and proper clinical safeguards, so patients can be directed to in-person or emergency care when needed.
As MD Live continues to build on its award-winning model, NCQA accreditation is recognition of MD Live’s foundational work to make virtual-first care even more reliable and connected for patients, clinicians, and plan sponsors.
“Virtual care is giving patients faster, more convenient access to clinical expertise, which ultimately helps them take control of their health,” Dr. Williams said. “Whether a patient is concerned about a rash on a Sunday night or managing a chronic condition such as diabetes, they can be assured that the care they receive delivers quality, coordinated support focused on their long-term health needs."
