Patient Centered Medical Home

Our practice is an NCQA

Level 3

Certified Patient Centered Medical Home

 AN OVERVIEW OF PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOME 

What is a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)?

A patient-centered medical home is health care focused on you, the patient. It is a partnership between you and your doctor. Your doctor leads a team of health care professionals committed to improving your overall health and to helping you reach your health goals.

Instead of just being treated for a problem here and there without making a connection between symptoms, the patient-centered medical home focuses on connecting the dots and coordinating care.

Your health team may consist of your primary care doctor, medical assistants, specialty physicians, pharmacists, dieticians, care coordinators and others depending on your needs.

For example, do you want to quit smoking? Better control of your diabetes or asthma? Lose weight? Manage your stress? Your medical home doctor will put the right team in place for you.

Are there advantages for me?

The team in your patient-centered medical home looks at your whole health picture. They spend more time with you at your visit. PCMH aims to prevent problems from occurring and put control of your health where it belongs –with you and your team.

Your doctor’s office will follow-up with you after your visit to see how you’re doing, or remind you to schedule tests that help manage your conditions.

If you need a specialist for a specific condition, your patient-centered medical home will help you find the right specialist for your needs. Because all your tests and treatments by other doctors have been sent to your primary care doctor, you have a centralized home for your medical history. You won’t have to re-explain every symptom and test result each time you visit your doctor.

What is my role in a patient centered medical home? 

In a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), patients and their care givers play an active role in their care and are considered a core member of the care team.  This means you are choosing to be included in all decision making, healthcare planning and goal setting. Doing this can actually improve your healthcare.

Patients are involved in: 

• Care planning

Patients work with their care team to establish care plans that meet their needs, values, and preferences. 

• Managing care

Patients learn to manage their own care at the level they choose. 

• Providing information

Patients provide a complete medical and social history at their initial visit and update it as needed. They also inform their care team about any care they receive outside of the practice. 

• Participating in quality improvement

Patients can participate in quality improvement efforts within the practice. 

• Contributing to policy and research

Patients can contribute to policy and research development and implementation. 

Do I see the entire team at my appointment?

You make an appointment with your patient-centered medical home doctor. Your doctor’s office will coordinate any care needed for other team members.

Can I see other doctors who are not part of my patient-centered medical home?

Yes, unless your benefit plan requires you to receive care from a designated patient-centered medical home doctor.

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns, you can contact Judy Klecan, Office Manager at 440-717-6100 or bring it up at your next appointment.

Click here for additional information regarding PCMH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_31k2gotfB8

https://www.ncqa.org/programs/health-care-providers-practices/patient-centered-medical-home-pcmh/