Researchers: Patient-Centered Medical Home Requires Change in Delivery System
A national demonstration project (NDP) to evaluate patient outcomes for group practices that transitioned to patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) found modest improvement in quality of care, but no improvement in patient-rated outcomes, according to research published by the Annals of Family Medicine.
In 2006, 36 family practices enrolled in the NDP. Progress toward the PCMH was measured by how many of the NDP model components the practices adopted. The change strategy did not include interventions to alter the delivery system beyond the individual practices. The practices adopted substantial numbers of NDP components over 26 months and saw modest improvement in condition-specific quality of care, but no improvement in patient outcomes.
PCMH models that call for practice change without altering the broader delivery system may not achieve their intended results, at least in the short term, the researchers concluded. Fundamental transformation of the healthcare landscape that promotes coordination, close ties to the community, resources, payment reform, and other support for the PCMH is needed, according to the article.
Posted on 7/7/2010 9:39:02 AM
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