At first, it was a trickle of pioneer practices across the country that signed up to become Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH). Today, the PCMH model has grown and proven itself by delivering better outcomes at a lower cost. The best outcome of all? Patients are happy with access to the team-oriented care that focuses on helping them get well and stay that way.
[Read more…] about PCMH Improves Practices and OutcomesPCMH and Payment Reform
Last week JAMA published, “Effects of a Medical Home and Shared Savings Intervention on Quality and Utilization of Care.” The authors found that a large multi-payer patient-centered medical home (PCMH) program in northeast Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative) achieved substantial reductions in unnecessary health care services, while improving the quality of care for its patients.
[Read more…] about PCMH and Payment ReformPatient Engagement
We all know the value and importance of patient engagement in clinical settings. More and more patients want to be involved in the decision-making process; they want to be informed. When health care providers and patients work together there’s an opportunity improve health outcomes and improve patient satisfaction. And, let’s face it, we all want that.
[Read more…] about Patient EngagementInterprofessional Health Training
I just finished reading “Progress and Promise: Profiles in Interprofessional Health Training to Deliver Patient-Centered Primary Care.” This cutting-edge report was published this past December by the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative. In order to achieve the Triple Aim of better health, better care, and lower costs, “educational reform must incorporate practice redesign, and delivery system change must include a central educational mission if we are to achieve enduring transformation.”
[Read more…] about Interprofessional Health TrainingKeep the Patient in the Patient-Centered Medical Home
I just came back from attending the annual fall conference of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative in Washington, DC. The conference had a large turnout with hundreds of participants from around the country and as far away as New Zealand. From listening to the conversations it’s clear that people are passionate about the primary care home model. Whether it’s accountable care, population health, team-based training or information technology, the energy in the audience was palpable.
[Read more…] about Keep the Patient in the Patient-Centered Medical HomeMeaningful Use and Patient Portals
In order to qualify for CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 incentives, eligible providers need to ensure that at least 5% of their patients use the provider’s “patient portal.” This means that patients must send an online message to their clinician, or patients need to view, download or transmit health information via the portal.
[Read more…] about Meaningful Use and Patient PortalsPreparing for NCQA Accreditation
Follow the NCQA Roadmap
Once a practice has committed to achieving NCQA accreditation, the real work of transformation begins. The process can take months to complete with organization and planning being crucial to a smooth transition. Here are a few tips for moving a practice smoothly to a recognized patient-centric model:
[Read more…] about Preparing for NCQA AccreditationCreating Your Team-Based Practice: Part 2
Treating Wellness
A basic tenet of the patient-centered medical home model is changing episodic, acute-focused care to a model that promotes wellness and helps each patient be at their highest level of health. For some, this means discovering risk factors, reminding them to get flu shots, and encouraging preventive screenings. These patients have taken time to become educated about health and what it takes to stay well.
[Read more…] about Creating Your Team-Based Practice: Part 2