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

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. © Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved.