Patient-Centered Medical Home
The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of healthcare based on an ongoing, personal relationship between a patient, doctor and the patient's care team. Whatever the medical needs – primary or secondary, preventive care, acute care, chronic care, or end-of-life care – the patient has a medical "home"; a single, trusted doctor and care team, through which continuous, comprehensive and integrated care is provided.
The PCMH model includes a personal doctor and care team that will provide medical care. When specialty care is needed, at the patient's request, the doctor and care team will personally manage, facilitate and coordinate the care with appropriate qualified professionals, such as hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and related community resources.
Participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working with doctors, healthcare quality advocates, governmental entities, consumer advocate groups and employers to develop and test the Patient-Centered Medical Home model.
The PCMH model proposes to improve primary care by focusing on the patient-doctor relationship and to strengthen this dynamic through a more comprehensive approach to patient care and more active patient involvement.
