What is Patient Centered Medical Home?
The medical home is best described as a model or philosophy of primary care that is patient-centered, comprehensive, team-based, coordinated, accessible, and focused on quality and safety. It has become a widely accepted model for how primary care should be organized and delivered throughout the health care system, and is a philosophy of health care delivery that encourages providers and care teams to meet patients where they are, from the most simple to the most complex conditions. It is a place where patients are treated with respect, dignity, and compassion, and enable strong and trusting relationships with providers and staff. Above all, the medical home is not a final destination instead, it is a model for achieving primary care excellence so that care is received in the right place, at the right time, and in the manner that best suits a patient’s needs.
Family Health Network and PCMH…
At Family Health Network, everything we do is centered around you as our patient.
Everyone here at Family Health Network is here to help you, by developing a relationship that focuses on your needs, your expectations, your preferences values and culture.
Some Primary Features of the Medical Home include an approach to the delivery of primary care that is:
Patient-centered: A partnership among practitioners, patients, and their families ensures that decisions respect patients’ wants, needs, and preferences, and that patients have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their own care.
Comprehensive: A team of care providers is wholly accountable for a patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care.
Coordinated: Care is organized across all elements of the broader health care system, including specialty care, hospitals, home health care, community services and supports.
Accessible: Patients are able to access services with shorter waiting times, “after hours” care, 24/7 electronic or telephone access, and strong communication through health IT innovations.
Committed to quality and safety: Clinicians and staff enhance quality improvement to ensure that patients and families make informed decisions about their health.
Family Health Network’s Medical Home Responsibilities
The medical home responsibilities of Family Health Network includes but are not limited to following:
- Coordinating patient care across multiple settings.
- Providing information to patients on how to obtain care and clinical information during office hours and after the office is closed.
- Obtaining complete medical history from all patients including care obtained outside of the practice.
- Providing evidence-based care, patient/family education and self-management support.
- Providing access to behavioral health management as part of its scope of services.
- Providing equal access and quality of care to all patients regardless of payment source.
- Providing information to uninsured patients on how to obtain medical coverage.
- Give instructions to patient and family on how to and who to contact when transferring medical record to the practice.
Patient’s Responsibilities
All patients are expected to be an active participant in their health care by:
- Assuming responsibility for certain aspects of their care.
- Providing the health care team with a complete medical history including access to a prior medical record.
- Preparing for their appointment by bringing a list of their medications and any questions or issues that they have with regard to their diagnosis and treatment.
- Following the Care Plan that the health care team has developed for them and communicating with the health care team any deviation from that plan.
- Contacting the clinic for advice before going to the Emergency Room for non-urgent conditions.
- Working with the care team to learn how to self-manage their care.
Patients and Staff Notification
All patients are informed of their medical home responsibilities and that of the Family Health Network Care Team by way of the following:
- Patient Centered Medical Home Brochure which is made accessible to all patients in the reception area.
- As part of the New Patient Welcome Packet given to all new patients.
- Through the Family Health Network website.