What are they, and why are they important for you?
You may or may not have heard the terminology “medical home” before. Reference to both the term and health model has grown tremendously in recent years. However, the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is not a new term or health model. The American Academy of Pediatrics first introduced it in 1967, and it has been evolving ever since. The information on this page is written specifically to inform you about what the medical home is and why exactly it is important to you and your child(ren).
First, we should define medical home, or, more specifically, the patient-centered medical home, for you. The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative defines the medical home as “a patient-centered philosophy that drives primary care excellence.” While this definition is brief, it most certainly describes the patient-centered medical home in a nutshell.
Key focus areas of PCMH
Bulloch Pediatrics Group is currently working towards obtaining Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition through The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). While it is a lengthy process, we truly believe it will enhance the patient experience and patient care at Bulloch Pediatrics Group. The benefits of Bulloch Pediatrics obtaining this recognition include the following key focus areas:
- Enhanced access and continuity of care;
- Population management;
- Planning and managing care;
- Self-care support;
- Tracking and coordinating care;
- Measuring and improving performance.
How will you benefit?
Parents and patients can expect: positive health outcomes, enhanced accessibility, less wait time, decreased ER utilization, enhanced patient engagement, knowledge of community resources and services, and reduced inpatient admissions.
Resources
The following websites provide additional resources you may find useful for helping to understand WHAT a patient-centered medical home is: