A house is not a home: keeping patients at the center of practice redesign.
The "patient-centered medical home" has been promoted as an enhanced model of primary care. Based on a literature review and interviews with practicing physicians, we find that medical home advocates and physicians have somewhat different, although not necessarily inconsistent, expectations of what the medical home should accomplish-from greater responsiveness to the needs of all patients to increased focus on care management for patients with chronic conditions. As the medical home concept is further developed, it will be important to not overemphasize redesign of practices at the expense of patient-centered care, which is the hallmark of excellent primary care.
Berenson
Robert A
RA
Urban Institute in Washington, DC, USA. rberenson@urban.org
Hammons
Terry
T
Gans
David N
DN
Zuckerman
Stephen
S
Merrell
Katie
K
Underwood
William S
WS
Williams
Aimee F
AF
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States