What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?
A Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a medical office where a team of healthcare professionals work together to provide a new, expanded type of care to patients. PCMH is based on a continuous and personal relationship between a patient, provider, and the patient’s care team.
What Should Your Care Team Do?
• Get to know you: Your care team should get to know you, your family, your life situation, and your cultural values and use this information at each visit to suggest treatments plans that make sense for you.
• Support you in caring for yourself: It is important to leave the office with a clear idea of how to care for yourself. Your care team should help you set goals for your care and help you meet your goals one step at a time. Your care team can provide you with information about classes and educational opportunities to learn about your condition and help you stay healthy. Your providers will also coordinate your care with other health providers to ensure you are receiving proper care as well as provide you with evidence-based care.
What Can You Do?
• Learn about caring for yourself: You are an active partner in your own care and you should take time to get to know your care team, learn about your condition, and set goals alongside your provider. It is important to follow the plan that you and your medical home team have agreed upon to get the desired results and improve your health.
• Communicate with your care team: You should select a personal provider and always bring a list of questions to each appointment. Also bring a list of any medications, vitamins, or supplements you use and always tell your care team when you don’t understand something that was said. To better coordinate care, inform your care team when you receive care from another health professional including: tests, hospitalizations, ER visits, and specialist. Your care team is there for you so it is important to always talk openly and honestly and express any needs or concerns to improve your level of care.
How a Medical Home Works for You:
• Better access to care when you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Reminders for important preventative and chronic care services
• Enhanced coordination with other providers involved in your care
• More education and self-management support
• Individualized care plans to help meet your goals
