Transforming Primary Care

Transforming Primary Care: The “Medical Home” Model

According to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, the “primary care (or patient-centered) medical home” model (PCMH) holds promise as a “way to improve healthcare in America by transforming how primary care is organized and delivered.” It emphasizes care that is:

• Patient-centered, oriented towards the whole person and respecting the unique needs and values of individual patients.

• Accessible, with shorter waiting times for urgent needs, enhanced in-person hours, and around-the-clock phone or electronic access to a care team member.

• Comprehensive, providing the majority of an individual patient’s physical and mental health care needs, with a team-based approach to care.

• Coordinated, emphasizing efficient care transitions and treatment across the spectrum of health settings, including hospital-, specialty-, home- and community-based care.

• Focused on quality & safety, with shared decision-making, evidence-based treatment, and performance measurement to improve quality and safety.