title: Are primary care practices ready to become patient-centered medical homes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the readiness of rural primary care practices to qualify as patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), one step toward participating in changes underway in health care finance and delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the 2008 Health Tracking Physician Survey to compare PCMH readiness scores among metropolitan and nonmetropolitan primary care practices. The National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) assessment system served as a framework to assess the PCMH capabilities of primary care practices based on their services, processes, and policies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found little difference between urban and rural practices. Approximately 41% of all primary care practices offer minimal or no PCMH services. We also found that large practices score higher on standards primarily related to information technology and care management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achieving the benefits of the PCMH model in small rural practices may require additional national promotion, technical assistance, and financial incentives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Fred A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: A Clinton
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: MacKinney
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration