Patient Centered Medical Home

Have you heard of the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)? It's a concept that has recently emerged to encourage comprehensive medical care in today's complex (and often confusing) health care system. It focuses on improving quality and safety of the whole person (from start to finish) through the use of integrated care (or coordinated care) and enhanced access. Essentially, physicians are forming partnerships with patients and family members.

To read the Joint Principles of the PCMH, click here. These were developed by the following four groups:

• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• American College of Physicians (ACP)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)