Patient-centered medical home

A patient-centered medical home is a team-based approach to health care led by a personal physician who provides comprehensive, coordinated care that delivers all of a patient’s health care needs, or either suitably directs them to care with other qualified practitioners. These needs include the supplying of preventive services, treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, as well as addressing end-of-life issues. Several outcomes of this model of integrated care are a strengthened patient-physician relationship, better primary care, and increased safety, quality, access, and communication for its patients. The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) has a standing policy in support of the patient-centered medical home.

Resources

ACOs and PCMHs: Update, legal requirements and practical considerations before pursuing (presentation by Jim Daniel, Jr., J.D., MBA)

Joint principles of the patient centered medical home (pcpcc.net)

National Committee for Quality Assurance Web site on patient centered medical homes (ncqa.org)

American College of Physicians Web site on patient-centered medical homes (acponline.org)

The DO Magazine - news and features about osteopathic medicine (osteopathic.org)