Transforming Physician Practices to Patient Centered Medical Homes

Both federal and state health care reform efforts are encouraging the use of the “patient-centered medical home” (PCMH). PCMH refers to a health care setting in which primary care clinicians partner with other health care professionals, patients, and their families to provide coordinated, patient-centered care that attempts to optimize outcomes. The country’s first medical home demonstration project, operated from 2006-2008 and involved 36 practices. The health policy journal Health Affairs reports on the lessons learned from this demonstration.