How the PAFP is committed to the highest-quality patient care
WHAT IS A "PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME"?
In the rapidly changing world of health care, it seems like something (or somone) has fallen through the cracks - the patient! And it's up to family physicians to fix that. A concept called "The Patient-Centered Medical Home," or "PCMH" for short, is transforming the way family physicians treat patients through preventive, more cost-efficient care with the patient squarely at the center. And it's working.
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A PCMH?
It might sound like a fancy new term, but the PCMH is rooted in easily understandable, logical goals and values that benefit physicians and patients alike. The elements of a PCMH include:
An ongoing relationship with a personal physician
The patient and the family physician work together more closely than ever to ensure the patient's wellness.
Physician-directed medical practice
That "personal physician" we just talked about? She or he is responsible for organizing a team of professionals who will support the patient's needs.
Treatment of the whole person
Rather than merely treating a patient as a series of unconnected body parts, the physician is committed to taking care of the patient's health from all angles.
Putting the patient's needs first
It seems like common sense. And in a lot of ways, it is. With the patient at the center of this care model, each need and concern is addressed and taken care of.
Emphasis on quality and safety
The patient isn't a number or a set of symptoms, and his or her safety and quality of care are top priorities.
Better delivery system
Scheduling, treatment and communications flexibility give the patient more options.
Fairer payment model
Treatment is cost-efficient, and physician payment reflects the added value of PCMH.
THIS ALL SOUNDS GREAT - IS THERE ANY MORE INFORMATION?
Yes! The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) is at the forefront of the PCMH movement. As such, PAFP leadership recognized the desperate need for a complete and comprehensive document about the PCMH - its beginnings, its components, its strengths, and data proving how well it works.
To that end, the PAFP is pleased to reveal The Patient-Centered Medical Home, the first-ever compendium of everything patients and physicians need to know about the PCMH. Within its pages, you'll learn how the PCMH started, why it's so necessary, and real-world examples of the success and power of patient-centered family medicine.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home is a living document, updated to reflect the continuous changes and triumphs of this exciting new frontier in health care. Please click on the image below to read this groundbreaking constitution.
