I found an article that discussed PCMH in New York State. It discusses a program that will help primary care offices receive National Committee for Quality Assurance medical home recognition. This recognition will help the provider and the patient because it qualifies the providers to receive the incentives, decided on in 2009 by the NYS department of health, for Patient-Centered Medical Homes developed and it will help improve health outcomes due to better coordination and integration of healthcare. I also really enjoyed learning the "Joint Principles of the the Patient-Centered Medical Home" that were decided upon by the AAFP, AOA, AAP and ACP. These principles described the individual elements of the PCMH and helped me better understand the practice. It also showed me that this is the type of healthcare I want to be a part of. As a PA, I want to be able to help my patients is the most efficient manner and with all the support they need to have the best outcome. I also want to be a part of a team that not only includes myself, a physician and other healthcare providers but the patient and their family as well. I think healthcare is on the right track with the development of Patient-Centered Medical Homes and other patient-centered practices and hopefully the end result is a healthier community with less healthcare costs.
http://www.ipro.org/index/patient-centered-medical
