Kentucky REC’s PCMH Services
By Megan A. Housley, MBA, Marketing Director for Kentucky REC
Twitter: @KentuckyREC
What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)?
NCQA’s PCMH Recognition program is a model for improving the organization and delivery of primary care. The medical home model has the potential to transform a primary care practice so that it is more comprehensive, coordinated, patient-centered, safe, and accessible.
In a traditional practice, a patient gets care only when he or she initiates contact by making an appointment. In the PCMH model, doctors and staff reach out to patients to make sure they are getting the care they need. The staff runs reports to see who is due for a checkup or screening, who is overdue for a prescription refill, who saw a specialist, what follow-up is needed, etc. The practice takes a proactive approach to keeping the patient as healthy as possible.
Stronger doctor/patient engagement, better access to the doctor, proactive intervention, and careful management of chronic conditions are the cornerstones of the PCMH model.
When done right, the results are better medical outcomes, fewer serious episodes, less hospitalization, and better quality of life. In the end, this lowers the cost of health care for the patient, the practice, and the community.
According to a recent analysis by Blue Cross Blue Shield, physicians who have transformed their practices to Patient Centered Medical Homes have saved an estimated $155 million while improving patient care. Researchers found that medical home practices showed higher ratings for care and preventative care services, an average of $26.37 in lower monthly medical costs per adult, and an average of about 20 percent lower rates of inpatient admission for patients who had “ambulatory care sensitive conditions” (i.e. asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.). (Click here to read full article)
PCMH & Meaningful Use
PCMH overlaps with the Meaningful Use incentive program by reinforcing the use of EHRs and Health IT. Stage 1 and Stage 2 Meaningful Use language is embedded into the PCMH Standards, so that Meaningful Users are well-prepared to begin the PCMH transformation process.
The PCMH program is specifically designed to give providers a roadmap, and a seal of approval, toward improving patient care. Effective utilization and Meaningful Use of an EHR puts a practice in direct alignment with PCMH standards.
Why Pursue PCMH?
- Improved Care
- Enhanced Efficiency
- Optimized EHR
- Stronger Market Competitiveness
- Higher Physician, Staff, and Patient Satisfaction
Introducing Kentucky REC PCMH Services
Our NCQA PCMH Certified Content Experts can partner with you to develop efficient, reliable care practices designed for sustainable practice transformation. Our framework serves to accelerate your journey to PCMH recognition. Through our expert training, coaching, and resources, your staff will be well-prepared to begin the transformation process. Our PCMH Certified Content Experts will help you measure your readiness for PCMH, educate you on best practices, and provide you with an array of resources to ease the process for your staff.
As your PCMH partner, the Kentucky REC offers a variety of services to help empower both small and large health care practices in their journey towards PCMH recognition. Our PCMH Certified Content Experts help you accelerate the recognition process by providing:
- Education on PCMH standards and best practices
- Documentation review and feedback
- Advice for overcoming transformation barriers
- Access to a web-based project management tool for tracking your transformation progress
- Guidance with the PCMH application and submission process
This article was originally published on Kentucky REC and is republished here with permission.