The new guidelines aim to ensure some standardization among other accreditation programs while encouraging a focus on the key elements of the patient-centered medical home. The AAFP, AAP, ACP and AOA developed the 13 guidelines to describe important elements considered essential for effective patient-centered medical home recognition programs. According to the guidelines, all patient-centered medical home recognition or accreditation programs should integrate the following:
1. Incorporate the Joint Principles of the patient-centered medical home, which the four physician organizations developed and adopted in Feb. 2007
2. Address the complete scope of primary care services
3. Ensure patient- and family-centered care, emphasizing engagement of patients, their families and caregivers
4. Engage multiple stakeholders in the development and implementation of the program
5. Align standards, elements, characteristics and/or measures with meaningful use requirements
6. Identify essential standards, elements and characteristics
7. Address the core concept of continuous improvement that is central to the patient-centered medical home model
8. Allow for innovative ideas
9. Acknowledge care coordination within the medical neighborhood
10. Clearly identify patient-centered medical home recognition or accreditation requirements for training program
11. Ensure transparency in program structure and scoring
12. Apply reasonable documentation/data collection requirements
13. Conduct evaluations of the program’s effectiveness and implement improvements over time.
Read the news release about the “Guidelines for Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition and Accreditation Programs.”
Read other coverage about the patient-centered medical home:
– Study Details Challenges With Patient-Centered Medical Homes
– New Standards for Patient-Centered Medical Homes in Line With Meaningful Use
– Horizon BCBS Subsidiary Launches N.J.’s First Patient Centered Medical Home
