title: Bridging the Gap: The Role of the Patient-Centered Medical Home in Reducing Time to Follow-Up After Hospital Discharge.
abstract: Poor transitions in care represent opportunities for improvement. The purpose of this study was to examine whether early follow-up by patients discharged from a hospital varied as a function of patient-centered medical home (PCMH) capacity. The PCMH capacity was not significantly associated with early follow-up; however, higher levels of capacity were associated with early follow-up among patients with more chronic conditions. Policy makers and practitioners should consider how the PCMH may be targeted to maximize its potential to improve transitions in care for these patients and ways it may be modified to improve transitions for other types of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions (Drs LR Hearld and KR Hearld) and Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, Ryals School of Public Health (Dr Budhwani), University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: Larry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hearld
authors.forename: Kristine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hearld
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budhwani
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D024382:Professional Role; D058996:Quality Improvement; D013997:Time Factors