Consumers & Patients

As a patient, you may have a lot of questions about the patient-centered medical home (or PCMH) and what it means to you. The PCMH is an approach to healthcare that, according to the Institute of Medicine, “is respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions.” The PCMH is not a nursing home; it is a medical office or clinic that emphasizes the importance the physician-patient partnership.

This means that a PCMH empowers you as a patient. You, and, if applicable, your family, play an important role in your healthcare options and plans through open communication with your healthcare clinician.

Your clinician takes the time to get to know you as a whole person and makes an effort to develop a strong relationship with you. Often, this means that your visits will be longer than the traditional 15-minute appointment so that you will have enough time to fully discuss your views and concerns.

Communication does not take place only during office visits; for example, you might contact your clinician through secure email when you have questions. If you do want or need to come in for a visit, your PCMH ensures that you can get an appointment promptly with the clinician who is following your care.

Your clinician also focuses on making sure you fully understand your treatment options. He or she clearly outlines several possible treatment and/or testing options and the benefits and drawbacks of each, and will make sure to overcome any language, cultural, literacy, or other barriers that might otherwise prevent complete understanding. In addition, all of your test results and records will be readily available upon your request.

Since its inception, the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative has recognized the importance of engaging consumer and patient groups in awareness activities about the patient-centered medical home. The Collaborative has established the Center for Consumer Engagement (CCE) for this very purpose. Please view the following video, "What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?" to learn more about the PCMH model for care delivery. This video was created by Emmi Solutions in partnership with the Collaborative to educate patients, employees, and other stakeholders about the patient centered medical home. Public distribution of this video is made possible through the generous support of TransforMED. You can also obtain additional information about the CCE, its current activities, and how you can get involved by clicking here.