Examining selected patient outcomes and staff satisfaction in a primary care clinic at a military treatment facility after implementation of the patient-centered medical home

Mil Med. 2013 Feb;178(2):128-34. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-12-00188.

Abstract

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is a holistic multidisciplinary approach to providing care in the primary care setting. Provider-led teams engage the patient and family in their own health care plan. It is linked to improve continuity of care and enhance access.

Objective: This article describes comparison outcomes in access to care, emergency department (ED) utilization, and population health management 2 fiscal years before and after implementation of the PCMH. Staff satisfaction was measured after implementation.

Design: A mixed study design approach was elected. De-identified aggregate data were mined from the Command's Business Report portal, from the pay-for-performance-based "Get to Goal" report, and through an anonymous voluntary questionnaire survey providing both qualitative and quantitative data interpretation.

Result: Access to care increased by 7%, ED utilization decreased by 75.3%, and population health/healthcare effectiveness data and information set (HEDIS) measures improved overall. Seventy-five percent of the staff who volunteered to be surveyed was satisfied with the PCMH.

Conclusion: After 2 years of implementation, the PCMH was associated with improvement in access to care, reduction of ED visits, improvement in population health/HEDIS measures, and a high degree of staff satisfaction.

MeSH terms

  • Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration
  • Data Mining
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Military Medicine / organization & administration*
  • Military Medicine / standards
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Patient-Centered Care* / organization & administration
  • Patient-Centered Care* / standards
  • United States