Everyone is talking about their goals to improve America’s beleaguered health care system: renewed emphasis on primary and preventive care; wide-scale adoption of electronic medical records and other state of the art technologies; tools to empower consumers to make smart health care decisions; greater transparency in pricing; and incentives that promote quality – all while controlling costs and increasing access.

This sounds like a tall task. But there is a way to accomplish these goals.

The nation’s leading medical groups have come together behind a proven model in health care delivery: the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PC-MH). In this new model, the traditional doctor’s office is transformed into the central point for Americans to organize and coordinate their health care, based on their needs and priorities.

At its core is an ongoing partnership between each person and a specially-trained primary care physician. This new model provides modern conveniences, like email communication and same-day appointments; quality ratings and pricing information; and secure online tools to help consumers manage their health information, review the latest medical findings and make informed decisions. Consumers receive reminders about necessary appointments and screenings, as well as other support to help them and their families manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

The primary care physician helps each person assemble a team when he or she needs specialists and other health care providers such as nutritionists and physical trainers. The consumer decides who is on his or her team and the primary care physician makes sure they are working together to meet all of the patient’s needs in an integrated, “whole person” fashion.

It’s a whole new way to approach health care based on a proven model. In fact, the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PC-MH) will be accredited by an independent organization so that payers can be assured that their small investment in this model of care delivery will result in a higher standard of care.

Introduction

The Medical Home

For More Information

Patient-Centered Medical Home Fact Sheet

	Introduction Everyone is talking about their goals to improve America’s beleaguered health care system: renewed emphasis on primary and preventive care; wide-scale adoption of electronic medical records and other state of the art technologies; tools to empower consumers to make smart health care decisions; greater transparency in pricing; and incentives that promote quality – all while controlling costs and increasing access. This sounds like a tall task. But there is a way to accomplish these goals. The Medical Home The nation’s leading medical groups have come together behind a proven model in health care delivery: the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PC-MH). In this new model, the traditional doctor’s office is transformed into the central point for Americans to organize and coordinate their health care, based on their needs and priorities. At its core is an ongoing partnership between each person and a specially-trained primary care physician. This new model provides modern conveniences, like email communication and same-day appointments; quality ratings and pricing information; and secure online tools to help consumers manage their health information, review the latest medical findings and make informed decisions. Consumers receive reminders about necessary appointments and screenings, as well as other support to help them and their families manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. The primary care physician helps each person assemble a team when he or she needs specialists and other health care providers such as nutritionists and physical trainers. The consumer decides who is on his or her team and the primary care physician makes sure they are working together to meet all of the patient’s needs in an integrated, “whole person” fashion. It’s a whole new way to approach health care based on a proven model. In fact, the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PC-MH) will be accredited by an independent organization so that payers can be assured that their small investment in this model of care delivery will result in a higher standard of care. For More Information Future of Family Medicine American Academy of Pediatrics American College of Physicians American Osteopathic Association Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Family Physicians