Improving Chronic Illness Care
Improving Chronic Illness Care

Patient-Centered Medical Home

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) introduced the medical home concept in 1967, referring to a central location for archiving a child’s medical record. In its 2002 policy statement, AAP expanded the concept to refer to primary care that emphasizes timely access to medical services, enhanced communication between patients and their health care team, coordination and continuity of care, and an intensive focus on quality and safety.  
 
In 2007, a set of seven principles describing the characteristics of a practice-based care model was issued by four physician membership organizations representing over 300,000 physicians.  The authoring organizations are:  the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, and AAP. The clinicians represented by these organizations provide the majority of primary care in the United States.
 
Background reading
The American College of Physicians Medical Home Builder
This self-paced program from ACP guides practices through a simple process for evaluating their practice in seven different important areas:  patient-centered care & communication; access & scheduling; organization of practice; care coordination & transitions in care; use of technology; population management; and quality improvement & performance improvement.
The Medical Home Digest
The Medical Home Digest is a newsletter devoted to keeping you informed about medical home transformation in the safety net. This newsletter is brought to you by the Safety Net Medical Home Initiative, which is sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund.  The Medical Home Digest is published by Qualis Health, in conjunction with ICIC. 
 
Ask Qualis to send the Safety Net Medical Home Initiative’s bulletin straight to your email inbox by sending your name, title, organization and e-mail address to them.