/ en Sat, 26 Apr 2025 21:59:43 -0500 Thu, 20 Sep 18 09:52:56 -0500 /news/insights-and-analysis/2018-09-20-health-systems-have-redefined-patient-centered-care <h2>Arming caregivers with insight into dementia behaviors; self-care strategies</h2> <p>A psychiatrist at The University of Michigan has developed and operationalized a behavioral approach to dementia care that eases the stress on caregivers while also benefiting patients, NPR <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/15/647992785/to-manage-dementia-well-start-with-the-caregivers">reports</a>. The training and support program arms caregivers with tools normally reserved for physicians as the amount of people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s reaches a record high, the publication said. </p> <p>The program gives caregivers a step-by-step method to pinpoint patients’ behavioral triggers and problem-solve around them instead of relying on medication alone. Caregivers are also encouraged to prioritize self-care, based on research showing that family members who care for dementia patients often suffer too, which in-turn affects the quality of care they provide. The University of Michigan is currently creating pamphlets and online tools to help those outside their clinic, and recently published the first <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-018-0801-8">pilot study</a> of a web-based DICE tool called WeCareAdvisor. </p> <p>“No one had ever provided family caregivers with such a user-friendly method before,” Katie Brandt, the director of Caregiver Support Services for the <a href="http://www.ftd-boston.org/">Frontotemporal Disorders Unit</a> at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told the publication.</p> <h2>Health systems taking multi-dimensional approach to patient-centered care</h2> <p>According to Modern Healthcare's most recent CEO Power Panel Survey, almost 65 percent of surveyed health care executives have changed how they define patient-centered care in the past five years, the publication <a href="http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20180915/NEWS/180919978">reports</a>. Health systems have redefined and are implementing changes to the concept of patient-centered care as they coordinate services, boost patient access and provide education materials and resources. These systems are shifting from focusing on clinical interactions and are now encompassing “anything that touches a patient in any way,” including major investments in technology and telemedicine, Jim Hinton, CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health in Texas, told the publication. </p> <p>This also includes bolstering patient engagement and developing greater insight into the entire patient picture by prioritizing the social determinants of health. Organizations such as Minneapolis-based Allina now screen patients in emergency departments and clinics for issues around housing and food insecurity, transportation challenges and domestic violence. </p> <h2>Hospitals continue to address the social determinants of health</h2> <p>More and more, hospitals are addressing the social determinants of health and are becoming attuned to how they relate to patients’ well-being, especially after the publication of an historic study showing that clinical care accounts for just 20 percent of a population’s health. Hospitals throughout the country have addressed this issue by investing in housing for displaced people, working to boost food security, helping patients with transportation needs and more. A <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-care-looks-beyond-medicine-to-social-factors-1537070520?">recent story</a> in the Wall-Street Journal backs up this research and underscores hospitals’ efforts as they experiment with new care strategies. For instance, United Healthcare screens patients for social needs and helps connect them with resources to ensure they have access to medication and housing, among other resources. And Geisinger, based in Danville, Pa., has actually saved money by providing free, healthy foods, along with other health services, to patients with Type 2 diabetes who need food assistance. </p> <h2>Hospitals team up to slash carbon emissions</h2> <p>At this week’s Global Climate Action Summit, more than 17,000 health systems worldwide pledged to cut “four coal plants’ worth of carbon emissions” from their operations this year in response to the public health threat posed by global warming, Grist <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hospitals-take-aim-at-the-greatest-health-threat-of-the-21st-century_us_5b9fc42de4b013b0977d3080">reports</a>. The Global Climate and Health Forum, which is leading the effort, says that global warming threatens food and water systems, spreads mosquito-borne diseases and exposes more people to extreme weather events.</p> <p>“Our biggest hope is that the summit will serve to mobilize people in the health sector around the world to really step up and take action,” Linda Rudolph, who heads the Public Health Institute’s Center for Climate Change and Health and also hosts the U.S. Climate and Health Alliance, told the publication.</p> Thu, 20 Sep 2018 09:52:56 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /patient-centered-medical-homes/patient-centered-medical-homes <p>According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the patient-centered medical home encompasses:</p><p><strong>1. Comprehensive care</strong> that meets the large majority of each patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Patient-centered</strong> <strong>care</strong> that is relationship-based with an orientation toward the whole person.</p><p><strong>3. Coordinated care</strong> across all elements of the broader health care system, including specialty care, hospitals, home health care, and community services and supports.</p><p><strong>4. Accessible services</strong> with shorter waiting times for urgent needs, enhanced in-person hours, around-the-clock telephone or electronic access to a member of the care team, and alternative methods of communication such as email and telephone care.</p><p><strong>5. High-quality and safe care</strong> with a commitment to quality improvement by ongoing engagement in activities such as using evidence-based medicine and clinical decision-support tools to guide shared decision making with patients and families, engaging in performance measurement and improvement, measuring and responding to patient experiences and patient satisfaction, and practicing population health management.</p>@media only screen and (min-width : 324px) and (max-width : 767px) {.tablet, .desktop {display: none;}} @media only screen and (min-width : 768px) and (max-width : 1028px) {.mobile, .desktop {display: none;}} @media only screen and (min-width : 1029px) {.mobile, .tablet {display: none;}} <hr><div> <div data-entity-type="block_content" data-entity-uuid="0dd9faf0-f555-4cfe-a77a-be8d26244e38" data-embed-button="block_embed" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:block_content.full" class="align-left embedded-entity tableau-embed" data-langcode="und"> </div> </div> <div class="tableauPlaceholder"> </div> </div> <div class="tablet"> <div class="tableauPlaceholder"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile"> <div class="tableauPlaceholder"> </div> </div> --><p>Source: AHA Annual Survey database. Copyright © 2018 ���������� Association.</p> Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:04:54 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /news/headline/2017-05-17-cms-accepting-applications-cpc-plus-medical-home-model <p>Eligible practices in Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Buffalo, NY, region may apply through July 13 to participate in the <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Comprehensive-Primary-Care-Plus" target="_blank">Comprehensive Primary Care Plus</a> model from 2018 to 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-05-17.html" target="_blank">announced</a> today. The multi-payer medical home model, which commenced in 14 regions this year, offers two tracks with different care delivery requirements and payment methodologies. Both tracks qualify as Advanced Alternative Payment Models under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act’s new payment system for clinicians. CMS expects to select up to 1,000 practices to participate in Round 2.</p> Wed, 17 May 2017 15:17:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /news/headline/2016-08-01-cms-seeks-practices-participate-new-primary-care-medical-home-model <p>Eligible practices in 14 regions may apply through Sept. 15 to participate in the <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Comprehensive-Primary-Care-Plus" target="_blank">Comprehensive Primary Care Plus</a> model, a five-year medical home model beginning in January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today. The multi-payer model, announced in April, will build on the Comprehensive Primary Care model to help practices support patients with serious or chronic diseases. CMS has provisionally selected to partner with 57 payers in the 14 regions, including commercial payers and state Medicaid agencies. Track 1 practices will continue to receive Medicare fee-for-service payments, while Track 2 practices will receive a mixture of up-front CPC payment and reduced Medicare fee-for-service payment. Track 2 practices must provide more comprehensive services for patients with complex medical and behavioral health needs and obtain a commitment from their health information technology vendors to support related health IT capabilities. Both tracks also will be eligible for performance-based incentive payments. For more information, see the CMS <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2016-Fact-sheets-items/2016-08-01.html" target="_blank">factsheet</a>.</p> Mon, 01 Aug 2016 15:55:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /news/headline/2016-05-31-cms-certain-medicare-acos-can-participate-new-medical-home-model <p>Primary care practices can participate in both the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Comprehensive Primary Care Plus model in certain circumstances, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Friday in an update to <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/Files/x/cpcplus-faqs.pdf" target="_blank">Frequently Asked Questions</a> on the model. Practices in Tracks 1, 2 or 3 of the MSSP or considering those tracks may participate in the CPC Plus model if eligible, the agency said. Practices participating in the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model, Next Generation ACO Model or other shared savings programs may not participate in the CPC Plus model, CMS said. It plans to limit the number of CPC Plus practices in ACOs to 1,500.</p> Tue, 31 May 2016 15:18:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /news/headline/2016-04-11-cms-announces-new-primary-care-medical-home-model <p>Public and private payers can apply through June 1 to participate in a new medical home model that will build on the Comprehensive Primary Care model to help practices support patients with serious or chronic diseases, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2016-Press-releases-items/2016-04-11.html" target="_blank">announced</a> today. Under the <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-primary-care-plus/" target="_blank">CPC Plus</a> model, CMS will partner with commercial insurers and state Medicaid agencies in up to 20 regions to provide monthly care management fees based on beneficiary risk tiers. Beginning July 15, CMS will solicit applications from primary care practices in the selected regions to participate in one of two tracks. Track 1 practices will continue to receive Medicare fee-for-service payments, while Track 2 practices will receive a mixture of up-front CPC payment and reduced Medicare fee-for-service payment. Track 2 practices must provide more comprehensive services for patients with complex medical and behavioral health needs and obtain a commitment from their health information technology vendors to support related health IT capabilities. Both tracks also will be eligible for performance-based incentive payments. CMS will host informational <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-primary-care-plus/" target="_blank">webinars</a> on the models April 14 and 19 at 3 p.m. ET. For more on the five-year project, see the CMS <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2016-Fact-sheets-items/2016-04-11.html" target="_blank">factsheet</a>.</p> Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:42:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /ahahret-guides/2016-03-31-improving-patient-experience-through-health-care-physical-environment <p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/improving-patient-experience-through-health-care-physical-environment-2016_tn.png" data-entity-uuid="54f7269c-822b-4edb-a83c-10017b1c9737" data-entity-type="file" alt="Improving the Patient Experience Through the Health Care Physical Environment – March 2016" align="right" width="150" height="194"></p><p>This HPOE guide, a collaboration with the <a href="http://send.aha.org/link.cfm?r=720902895&sid=93476125&m=12526205&u=AHA_HRET1&j=33045914&s=http://www.ashe.org/?utm_source=eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HPOEeblast-03-31-16-newreport" target="_blank">American Society for Healthcare Engineering</a>, explores ways hospital and health system leaders can use the physical environment to improve the patient experience. The guide describes a 'people, process, place' model that will help hospital and health system leaders identify people-centered ways to improve the patient experience of care through:</p><ul><li>establishing a culture of caring;</li><li>implementing process improvements, such as processes that support patients and staff; and</li><li>making improvements to the place of care, including the hospital physical environment, technology and furniture.</li></ul><p>By working with this model, hospitals and health systems can take a more holistic approach to improving the patient experience.</p><p>The guide includes case studies; a hospital leader checklist; a template for using the people, process and place model; a detailed table outlining eight domains of care measured by the HCAHPS survey with observed relationships to the physical environment; and additional resources list.</p><p>View an archive of the <a href="/advocacy-webinar-recording/2016-09-21-improving-patient-experience-through-health-care-physical">webinar here</a>.</p> Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /case-studies/2012-07-19-giving-staff-and-patients-active-role-improving-care <p>UNC Hospitals is committed to providing a patient-centered care environment. A team of leaders is charged each year in setting and prioritizing goals for each pillar. The proposed goals are vetted through various integral committees before being presented to the board for final approval. Multidisciplinary Commitment to Caring teams are assigned to evaluate opportunities and develop action plans to help meet the goals that align with the Institute of Medicine's quality aims.</p> Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /magazinenewspaper/2012-03-01-patient-centered-medical-home-strategies-put-patients-center-primary <p>This brief describes how decisionmakers can encourage a model of care that truly reflects the needs, preferences and goals of patients and families.</p> Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Patient-Centered Medical Homes /case-studies/2012-02-01-patient-centered-medical-home-initiative-improve-care-coordination-and <p>The goals of the project were to improve: patient access to health care services and providers; care coordination for the patient; and health care outcomes by implementing evidence-based guidelines. A Plan, Do, Check, Act strategy was used to meet National Committee for Quality Assurance standards. The first step was to conduct a self-assessment to identify gaps in the current system. After identifying the gaps, a multidisciplinary team was established to address the issues identified.</p> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Patient-Centered Medical Homes