Patient-centered medical home (PCMH) and the care of older adults

Abstract

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a promising model for transforming the organization and delivery of comprehensive, cost-effective primary care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the PCMH encompasses five major functions and attributes: comprehensive care, patient centered, coordinated care, accessible services, and quality and safety. The PCMH model of care has the potential to improve the health of older Americans, as it is uniquely aligned with the values of geriatric medicine to deliver primary care for high-cost, high-need older adults with complex health needs. Given the demographic imperative of an aging society, the PCMH enhanced for older adults is an ideal model to strengthen the care of all populations as primary care becomes the focal point of complex care coordination.