Patient-Centered Medical Home

What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?

A patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a more effective and efficient model of health care delivery. This new model produces better care and lower costs. In a patient-centered medical home:

Patients have a relationship with a personal physician.
A practice-based care team takes collective responsibility for the patient's ongoing care.
Care team is responsible for providing and arranging all the patient's health care needs.
Patients can expect care that is coordinated across care settings and disciplines.
Quality is measured and improved as part of daily work flow.
Patients experience enhanced access and communication.
Practice uses EHRs, registries, and other clinical support systems.

Click here for an excellent summary of many of the PCMH pilot programs around the US. The results of these programs show that PCMH works very well in both small practices and large integrated systems. Overall, the results show that with better access and care coordination using HIT, there is consistently a 25 to 30% reduction in hospitalization, 50% decrease in rehospitalization and a 10 to 30% reduction ER use. Many of the pilots show that just the reduced hospitalization alone more than covered the cost of delivering PCMH level care.
For small and medium size practices, the 32 practices in the TransforMED National Demonstration are seeing an average 14% increase in revenue, even without new money, plus much more satisfaction among patients, doctors and staff.

Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Home.

How can I tell if my practice qualifies as a Medical Home?

Your first step is to take the TransforMed Medical Home IQ Assessment. After you complete the survey, the staff at TransforMed will analyze your results and issue a report. There is NO CHARGE for these services.

Other Resources:

This is a terrific website with information about patient centered medical home for physicians, patients, employers and legislators.

Medical Homes are characterized by:
* greater access to needed services
* better quality of care
* greater focus on prevention
* early identification and management
of health problems
* lower per person costs
* lower emergency room utilization
* fewer hospital admissions
* fewer unnecessary tests &
procedures
* less illness and injury
* higher patient satisfaction

The Robert Graham Center has written a
white paper explaining the evidence behind
the use of Medical Homes.