Introduction to PCMH
1. What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?
A Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a healthcare setting that facilitates a strong patient-provider relationship. It includes an agreement from both the patient to be actively engaged in their health and the physician to work together with the patient (and when appropriate their family) to provide comprehensive healthcare with all parties working toward achieving wellness.
Click here for a SHORT VIDEO about why patient centered care is important and what a PCMH looks like.
2. What is the history and background of Patient Centered Medical Home?
- 1967: American Academy of Pediatrics first coined the term “medical home” as a method of providing care to treat the special healthcare needs of very ill children. It had the pediatrician partnering with the patient’s family and care was coordinated.
- 1970’s: WHO (World Health Organization) more closely examined primary care and the concept of a medical home and defined health as not merely the absence of disease.
- 1990’s: Ed Wagner developed the Chronic Care Model. The model increases quality of care and cost effectiveness in patients with chronic diseases and is the focal point for PCMH development.
- 2007: Joint Principles of PCMH were adopted by primary care professional associations
- 2008 to present: Many health plans and employers are implementing the PCMH model in pilot studies
3. What primary care professional associations released the Joint
Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home?
- American College of Physicians
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Academy of Pediatrics
4. What are the 7 Joint Principles of PCMH?
- Personal Physician
- Physician Directed Practice Team Provides Care
- Whole Person Orientation
- Coordination of Care
- Safety and Quality are Hallmarks
- Enhanced Patient Access
- Payment System Supports the Model
Click here for the Joint Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home document
Last update July 2, 2010