Primary Care Medical Home Research Articles

Development of a Multidisciplinary Medical Home Program for NICU Graduates.

Typical primary care practices are often not equipped to meet the medical, developmental or social needs of infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These needs are exacerbated for infants and caregivers residing in poverty. This article discusses a multidisciplinary, family-centered medical home designed to address the needs of this special population. This is a descriptive analysis of a cohort of patients in the Next Steps Program (NSP), a multidisciplinary primary care medical home. Key program elements include: continuity of care from the NICU to primary care, routine developmental surveillance, care coordination, and proactive screening to address medical and social needs. The NSP has become a primary referral source for local NICUs, with a total of 549 medically fragile infants enrolled from its inception in 2011 through 2016. Caregivers and patients experience psychosocial stressors at averages statistically significantly higher than the rest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the US. Although patients in the program use medical resources beyond that of typically developing infants, hospital utilization among this patient cohort is trending down. Caring for medically fragile NICU graduates can be daunting for families given the array of necessary services, supports, and resources to maximize their potential. A multidisciplinary primary care medical home, such as the NSP, is a successful model of patient care demonstrating favorable associations with health care utilization, care coordination, and addressing/improving family functioning and their experience.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE DEMENTIA CARE IN INTEGRATED PRIMARY CARE

People with dementia (PwD) receive most of their health care in primary care, yet timely recognition and optimal management of dementia in that setting continues to be challenging. Implementation of primary care medical home models in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) holds promise for improving quality and coordination of dementia care through interprofessional collaboration. Integrating behavioral health providers (BHPs) into primary care may help to support the care of people with dementia and their families. However, most integrated BHPs have a generalist training background and likely require professional education to address the unique needs of patients with dementia. We will describe findings from a national VHA education needs survey of integrated BHPs and an in-depth qualitative study examining primary care for PwD in two large VHA healthcare systems. We will discuss how geriatric experts can serve as trainers to address current gaps in primary care of PwD.

The Association Between Neighborhood Socioeconomic and Housing Characteristics with Hospitalization: Results of a National Study of Veterans.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) have an inextricable impact on health. If remained unaddressed, poor SDOH can contribute to increased health care utilization and costs. We aimed to determine if geographically derived neighborhood level SDOH had an impact on hospitalization rates of patients receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) primary care clinics. In a 1-year observational cohort of veterans enrolled in VHA's primary care medical home program during 2015, we abstracted data on individual veterans (age, sex, race, Gagne comorbidity score) from the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse and linked those data to data on neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) and housing characteristics from the US Census Bureau on census tract level. We used generalized estimating equation modeling and spatial-based analysis to assess the potential impact of patient-level demographic and clinical factors, NSES, and local housing stock (ie, housing instability, home vacancy rate, percentage of houses with no plumbing, and percentage of houses with no heating) on hospitalization. We defined hospitalization as an overnight stay in a VHA hospital only and reported the risk of hospitalization for veterans enrolled in the VHA's primary care medical home clinics, both across the nation and within 1 specific case study region of the country: King County, WA. Nationally, 6.63% of our veteran population was hospitalized within the VHA system. After accounting for patient-level characteristics, veterans residing in census tracts with a higher NSES index had decreased odds of hospitalization. After controlling all other factors, veterans residing in census tracts with higher percentage of houses without heating had 9% (Odds Ratio, 1.09%; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.14) increase in the likelihood of hospitalization in our regional Washington State analysis, though not our national level analyses. Our results present the impact of neighborhood characteristics such as NSES and lack of proper heating system on the likelihood of hospitalization. The application of placed-based data at the geographic level is a powerful tool for identification of patients at high risk of health care utilization.

Impact of rural address and distance from clinic on depression outcomes within a primary care medical home practice

BackgroundDepression is the second leading cause of death among young adults and a major cause of disability worldwide. Some studies suggest a disparity between rural and urban outcomes for depression. Collaborative Care Management (CCM) is effective in improving recovery from depression, but its effect within rural and urban populations has not been studied.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 3870 patients diagnosed with depression in a multi-site primary care practice that provided optional, free CCM was conducted. US Census data classified patients as living in an Urban Area, Urban Cluster, or Rural area and the distance they resided from their primary care clinic was calculated. Baseline demographics, clinical data, and standardized psychiatric assessments were collected. Six month Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9) scores were used to judge remission (PHQ9 < 5) or Persistent Depressive Symptoms (PDS) (PHQ9 ≥ 10) in a multivariate model with interaction terms.ResultsRural patients had improved adjusted odds of remission (AOR = 2.8) and PDS (AOR = 0.36) compared to urban area patients. The natural logarithm transformed distance to primary care clinic was significant for rural patients resulting in a lower odds of remission and increased odds of PDS with increasing distance from clinic. The marginal probability of remission or PDS for rural patients equaled that of urban area patients at a distance of 34 or 40 km respectively. Distance did not have an effect for urban cluster or urban area patients nor did distance interact with CCM.ConclusionResiding in a rural area had a beneficial effect on the recovery from depression. However this effect declined with increasing distance from the primary care clinic perhaps related to greater social isolation or difficulty accessing care. This distance effect was not seen for urban area or urban cluster patients. CCM was universally beneficial and did not interact with distance.

Featured counter-trafficking program: The CAREs clinic, a primary care medical home for commercially exploited youth

This invited article is one of several comprising part of a special issue of Child Abuse and Neglect focused on child trafficking and health. The purpose of each invited article is to describe a specific program serving trafficked children. Featuring these programs is intended to raise awareness of innovative counter-trafficking strategies emerging worldwide and facilitate collaboration on program development and outcomes research. This article describes a medical home model of care to serve the complex medical and mental health needs of commercially sexually exploited youth. Located in Washington D.C., US, it provides coordinated ongoing primary, mental health, and reproductive health care in a trauma-informed manner. Serving 62 youth during its first year, the medical home has begun to improve access to high-quality healthcare to a very vulnerable population.

Integrating a Medical Home in an Outpatient Dialysis Setting: Effects on Health-Related Quality of Life.

Integrating primary care has been proposed to reduce fragmented care delivery for patients with complex medical needs. Because of their high rates of morbidity, healthcare use, and mortality, patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) may benefit from increased access to a primary care medical home. To evaluate the effect of integrating a primary care medical home on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with ESKD receiving chronic hemodialysis. Before-after intervention trial with repeated measures at two Chicago dialysis centers. Patients receiving hemodialysis at either of the two centers. To the standard hemodialysis team (nephrologist, nurse, social worker, dietitian), we added a primary care physician, a pharmacist, a nurse coordinator, and a community health worker. The intervention took place from January 2015 through August 2016. Health-related quality of life, using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) measures. Of 247 eligible patients, 175 (71%) consented and participated; mean age was 54years; 55% were men and 97% were African American or Hispanic. In regression analysis adjusted for individual visits with the medical home providers and other factors, there were significant improvements in four of five KDQOL domains: at 12 and 18months, the Mental Component Score improved from baseline (adjusted mean 49.0) by 2.64 (p = 0.01) and 2.96 (p = 0.007) points, respectively. At 6 and 12months, the Symptoms domain improved from baseline (adjusted mean = 77.0) by 2.61 (p = 0.02) and 2.35 points (p = 0.05) respectively. The Kidney Disease Effects domain improved from baseline (adjusted mean = 72.7), to 6, 12, and 18months by 4.36 (p = 0.003), 6.95 (p < 0.0001), and 4.14 (p = 0.02) points respectively. The Physical Component Score improved at 6months only. Integrating primary care and enhancing care coordination in two dialysis facilities was associated with improvements in HRQOL among patients with ESKD who required chronic hemodialysis.

Variables Associated with Emergency Department Utilization by Pediatric Patients with Asthma in a Federally Qualified Health Center.

To study variables associated with Emergency Department (ED) utilization among pediatric patients with asthma in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). We analyzed Electronic Health Record (EHR) data in a retrospective cohort study of patients with asthma between ages 2 and 18 who received primary care at a FQHC. The primary outcome studied was a visit to the ED at Ann and Robert Lurie's Children's Hospital (LCH) for an acute visit related to asthma. Univariate analyses and a multiple logistic regression were performed to study the effect of demographic and clinical variables on ED utilization. Of the 286 patients in the initial EHR query, 200 were included in the final analysis. The median age of subjects in the study cohort was 8.73years. Patients in the cohort with ED visits averaged 1.32 ED visits in the 15-month period of analysis. The multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated the significant predictors of ED utilization were (1) younger age (OR 0.977, 0.968-0.984, P < 0.001), (2) proximity of patient residence to the hospital when compared with their primary care medical home (OR 0.907, 95% CI 0.828-0.992, P < 0.05), and (3) absence of an asthma action plan (OR 0.079, 95% CI, 0.016-0.283, P < 0.001). Younger age, closer relative proximity of the patient's home to the hospital compared with the clinic, and absence of an asthma action plan were all identified as significant predictors of ED utilization. Sex, ethnicity, language, passive smoke exposure, and insurance status were not statistically significant predictors of ED utilization.

RATES AND PREDICTORS OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINATION AMONG YOUNG MEN RECRUITED FROM URBAN CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS

Background and Objective&#x0D; Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates are suboptimal in young men, representing a missed opportunity to prevent cancers caused by HPV. Data about factors associated with vaccination over time are important to design interventions that improve vaccination rates. The aims of this study were to determine HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates in young men 13-26 years of age recruited from clinical and community settings from 2013-2014 and 2016-2017, and to determine factors associated with vaccination.&#x0D; Material and Methods&#x0D; Men (N=747) were recruited from a hospital-based teen health center (THC), health department sexually transmitted disease clinic (HDSTD) and the general community. Participants completed a self-administered survey assessing demographic and behavioral factors. Vaccination status was determined using the electronic medical record and a statewide immunization registry. We determined vaccine initiation and completion rates, by recruitment site and year. We determined factors independently associated with vaccine initiation and completion, overall and stratified by recruitment year, using multivariable logistic regression.&#x0D; Results&#x0D; Mean age was 21.2 years, 258 (34.5%) had initiated the vaccine series and 154 (20.8%) had completed it. Those recruited from the THC (vs. community and HDSTD) were more likely to initiate (71.3%, 23.2%, and 19.5%, respectively, p&lt;.0001) and complete (50.7%, 11.7%, and 8.3%, p&lt;.0001) the series. In multivariable analysis, variables associated with vaccine initiation were younger age (13-17 vs. 22-26 years: AOR 5.31), insurance plan (Private vs. Medicaid: OR 0.39; Medicaid vs. others: AOR 2.22), no cigarette smoking (no vs. yes: AOR 1.78) and recruitment site (THC vs. HDSTD: AOR 3.74; THC vs. community: AOR 3.01). Variables associated with vaccine completion were younger age (13-17 vs. 22-26 years: AOR 3.55; 18-21 vs. 22-26 years: AOR 4.26), insurance plan (Private vs. Medicaid: AOR 0.51; Medicaid vs. others: AOR 2.62), fewer lifetime female partners (1 vs. 2-10: AOR 2.55; 1 vs. 11+: AOR 2.23) and recruitment site (THC vs. HDSTD: AOR 4.99; THC vs. community: AOR 3.95).&#x0D; Conclusion&#x0D; HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates were low among young men over the 6 years after vaccine recommendations for men. Men who reported behaviors that have been associated with a higher risk for HPV were less likely to be vaccinated. Interventions that improve access to a primary care medical home and insurance programs that cover vaccination costs may increase HPV vaccination rates in young men.

Medication Reconciliation Across Care Transitions in the Pediatric Medical Home

To characterize medication discrepancies for patients with chronic illnesses seen at outside facilities. This was a retrospective evaluation of a medication reconciliation across care transitions (MRAT) program developed and piloted for one year in an academic pediatric primary care medical home. The MRAT involved chart review and contacting caregivers upon receiving external specialist notes or hospital discharge summaries. Data obtained from the program were used to determine the frequency and types of medication discrepancies for children with complex and noncomplex chronic conditions. MRATs for 124 encounters were evaluated, 74.0% in response to specialist appointments. Chart review revealed a mean of 3.64 discrepancies per patient, and telephone calls revealed 1.39 additional discrepancies per patient. The number of medication discrepancies from both chart review and telephone calls between complex and noncomplex patients was statistically significant, with a mean of 5.63 vs. 3.77 per patient (p = 0.005). Therapy delays occurred in 16.1% of patients due to insurance rejections, family not starting a new medicine, or confusion about the medication change. Mean time required for reconciliation was 24 minutes. In addition to medication reconciliation, 107 interventions completed during MRATs included patient education, adjusting drug therapy, coordinating care between providers, recommending laboratory monitoring, and facilitating patient appointments. Children with chronic illness often experience medication changes and delays in therapy when seen in the hospital or by specialists. Timely identification of these changes improves communication and offers the opportunity to identify and prevent problems with medication therapy.

Gaps and Factors Related to Receipt of Care within a Medical Home for Toddlers Born Preterm

To characterize gaps and factors related to receipt of care within a medical home for toddlers born preterm. Participants were 202 caregivers of children born at <35 weeks of gestation. At 10-16 months of corrected age, caregivers completed the National Survey of Children's Health (2011/2012) medical home module and a sociodemographic profile. Care within a medical home comprised having a personal doctor/nurse, a usual place for care, effective care coordination, family-centered care, and getting referrals when needed. Gestational age and neonatal follow-up clinic attendance were abstracted from the medical record. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition assessed developmental status. Log-binomial regression examined factors related to receiving care within a medical home. Fifty-three percent (n = 107) of the children received care within a medical home. Low socioeconomic status (young caregiver: risk ratio [RR] = 0.73; 95% CI 0.55, 0.97; low education: RR= 0.69; 95% CI 0.49, 0.98) and delayed language (RR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.42, 0.95) were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving care within a medical home. Degree of prematurity and neonatal clinic follow-up participation were unrelated to receipt of care within a medical home. Receipt of care within a medical home was lacking for nearly one-half of preterm toddlers, especially those with lower socioeconomic status and poorer developmental status. Discharge from a neonatal intensive care unit may be an optimal time to facilitate access to a primary care medical home and establish continuity of care. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01576783.

Gender dysphoria in youth: An overview for primary care providers.

Primary care providers who encounter children are often the first line of contact for individuals with gender dysphoria, which occurs when sex assigned at birth is incongruent with one's true, expressed sexual identity. Because those with untreated gender dysphoria are at risk of a variety of negative outcomes, including mood symptomatology, suicidality, substance use disorders, and other psychosocial risk factors, it is critical that health care providers are adept in the provision of holistic, patient-centered care. The purpose of this report is to provide an updated review of the current evidence from the literature pertaining to the identification, treatment, and coordination of care among children with gender dysphoria within the primary care setting or medical home. Using PubMed and CINAHL, a literature review spanning from 2012 to the present was conducted using the following key words: gender dysphoria, transgender health, LGBT health, and hormone therapy. Reference lists of identified articles were also explored for relevance. Treatment may include a social transition, hormone antagonist therapy, or the administration of cross-sex hormone therapy, with a medical home needed to facilitate coordination of care. Best practice guidelines vary across pediatric and developmental groups and include both reversible and nonreversible modalities. Screening for negative psychosocial sequelae must be completed to include mood symptomatology, suicidality, substance use disorders, and risky sexual behavior, so that appropriate screening, identification, and treatment interventions can be implemented. The primary care medical home must act as a foundation for the identification of gender dysphoria and/or associated comorbidities and must treat, when able, or refer, when indicated. In addition, because of structural barriers and stigmatization, public policy often fails the transgender community and can exacerbate the aforementioned psychosocial comorbidities faced by the transgender youth community. Health care providers, particularly nurse practitioners, are in a unique position to expand on the face-to-face care provided to the community and engage in advocacy efforts to dismantle structural barriers impeding transgender individuals and communities while also providing primary health care, anticipatory guidance, and care coordination.

Implementation of the Geriatric Patient-Aligned Care Team Model in the Veterans Health Administration (VA).

Here, we describe the implementation of a specialty primary care medical home (PCMH) model called Geriatric Patient-Aligned Care Teams (GeriPACT) in the Veterans' Health Administration (VA) that is focused on serving older complex patients. In particular, our aims in this article are to describe how the GeriPACT model was developed and implemented in VA sites, provide a closer look at how GeriPACT functions by presenting a case study, and highlight data showing national variation in the implementation of GeriPACT staffing models and PCMH practices. Stakeholder feedback regarding the GeriPACT model was obtained from a GeriPACT team and the director of GeriPACT in VA. Here, we present national data regarding variations in GeriPACT staffing and PCMH practices. Following the adoption and implementation of the GeriPACT model and release of the GeriPACT handbook, sites were able to adopt the model's principles. The VA's adoption of PCMH reinforced the mission of patient-centered primary care by integrating psychosocial and environmental determinants of health. This was accomplished with enhancements to staff support through new full-time employment equivalents, but also by optimizing staff productivity through improved team function and interpersonal care. The GeriPACT model was implemented in a bottom-up fashion that has led to variation in how GeriPACTs are structured and staffed, as well as how they conform to various PCMH principles. GeriPACT is one approach for bringing an interdisciplinary, patient-centric perspective to primary care in a manner that can likely support the higher staffing costs with economies realized from diminished reliance on institutional placement and highly technologic health care. It is a model which can provide training for the next generation of providers and clinicians.

The Pediatric Aerodigestive Center as a Tertiary Care-Based Medical Home: A Proposed Model

Children with special healthcare needs have been identified nationally as a population whose health care is associated with unmet needs; increased morbidity; fragmentation of care and medical errors; caregiver dissatisfaction; and disproportionately high costs. A subset of these children are medically fragile, with medical complexity that requires a reliance on tertiary care-based services-including subspecialty appointments, surgical procedures, and care coordination resources. For medically complex patients affected by upper and lower respiratory tract and gastrointestinal disorders, multidisciplinary aerodigestive centers have emerged at tertiary care centers across the United States to facilitate coordinated, high-quality, and high value care. We propose that the aerodigestive center is an effective vehicle for a tertiary care-based medical home. Within this model, the integration of a general pediatrician will help promote holistic, patient-centered care, and the general pediatrician can serve to both support and provide continuity with the primary care medical home.

Meeting the needs of children in foster care with a primary care medical home

Children in foster care have often faced complex traumatic childhood experiences; recurring familial separations; loss of familiar environments, neighborhoods, and schools; and perhaps inadequate or inconsistent access to health care and educational opportunities. Out‐of‐home placement into foster care is a stressful, often chaotic experience; accessing adequate health care during this time should not be an additional burden for these vulnerable youth.

A centralized, primary care medical home survivorship model at the GW Cancer Center.

45 Background: Models for survivorship care are often oncology-based. George Washington (GW) Adult Cancer Survivorship Clinic (ACS) has developed a unique, centralized model for survivorship care delivery staffed by internal medicine providers. The objective is to provide care to survivors that encompass the broad array of chronic issues they face, in addition to guidance on cancer surveillance and prevention. Methods: We implemented a centralized, primary care, consultative model of survivorship care, emphasizing care coordination. A personalized, evidence based survivorship care plan (SCP) is provided to each patient. Patients with complex needs may be seen for follow-up. A copy of the SCP is sent to the patient’s primary care provider (PCP). Referrals are made to our network of specialists within the GW system including: cardiology, neurology, weight management, genetic counseling, dermatology, physical therapy, integrative medicine, psycho-oncology, sexual health, and oncofertility. Referrals are tracked to specialty services using the electronic medical record (EMR). Results: Based on preliminary data, from January 2016 to October 2017, 261 cancer survivors were seen in the survivorship clinic. The majority were breast cancer survivors (166). Referral records were available for 225 patients. Most common were dermatology for baseline skin cancer screening (28%), physical therapy (16%), social work and psycho-oncology (15%), and weight management (15%). Conclusions: Our clinic is based on a primary care medical home model for each survivor, which includes care coordination and referral to specialty services. Limitations include inconsistent referral tracking methods with our EMR and incomplete data for all survivorship patients. Future research plans include assessing the impact of referrals on patient-reported outcomes and morbidity.

A Multidisciplinary, Team-Based Teleconsultation Approach to Enhance Child Mental Health Services in Rural Pediatrics

ABSTRACTMental health services for rural youth are extremely limited, especially given the national shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs). Patient-centered primary care medical homes (PCMHs) are often their only available portal of care, yet high-quality PCMH integrated models of behavioral health that include a CAP are rare. This manuscript presents a unique multidisciplinary teleconsultation model wherein integrated behavioral systems consultation was employed to increase access to integrated behavioral health services. Common referrals included complex presentations outside of provider comfort range or medication and diagnostic clarification. Primary concerns were symptoms of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression. Recommendations included referral to outpatient therapy, further coordination with the medical team, and follow-up with the CAP. Providers noted access to care, specialized quality of care, provider support, and enhancing principles of the PCMH as strengths of the teleconsultation. Challenges included patient engagement, scheduling/availability, challenges with the teleconsultation process, and provider-level barriers.

Post-Hospital Discharge Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study Exploring the Value of Pharmacist-Enhanced Care and Describing Medication-Related Problems.

BACKGROUND Medication-related problems occur at high rates during care transitions. Evidence suggests that pharmacists are well-suited to identify and resolve medication-related problems during hospital admission and at discharge. Additional evidence is needed to understand the impact of face-to-face pharmacist visits in primary care after discharge. The purpose of the study was to describe medication-related problems found during face-to-face pharmacist visits in a medical home after hospital discharge.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted within an academic primary care center staffed by family medicine trained physicians that evaluated patients who attended a hospital follow-up visit with pharmacist-enhanced care (N = 86) versus usual care (N = 86). The primary objective was to describe medication-related problems identified by pharmacists using a modified individualized Medication Assessment and Planning tool for patients receiving pharmacist-enhanced care. Secondary analyses were also conducted to compare 30-day and 60-day hospital readmission and emergency department visit rates in those exposed to pharmacist-enhanced care versus those who were not.RESULTS At baseline, the mean hospitalizations in the prior year were 1.1 ± 1.7 (pharmacist-enhanced care) and 0.76 ± 1.2 (usual care), indicating a low initial readmission risk. Of patients receiving pharmacist-enhanced care, 97.7% were found to have at least 1 medication-related problem, with an average of 4.36 medication-related problems per patient. The 30-day readmission rate was lower, but not significantly different between groups (8.1% for pharmacist-enhanced care versus 12.8% for usual care; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.16-1.36).LIMITATIONS Limitations include the retrospective cohort study design and small sample size. Medication-related problems were identified and collected prospectively during pharmacist visits.CONCLUSION Medication-related problems are ubiquitous after hospital discharge. Larger prospective studies will be needed to understand the potential value of pharmacist-enhanced care during hospital follow-up visits on readmission rates in low-risk patient populations receiving care within a primary care medical home.

Using State Administrative Data to Identify Social Complexity Risk Factors for Children.

Screening for social determinants of health is challenging but critically important for optimizing child health outcomes. We aimed to test the feasibility of using an integrated state agency administrative database to identify social complexity risk factors and examined their relationship to emergency department (ED) use. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among children younger than 18 years with Washington State Medicaid insurance coverage (N = 505,367). We linked child and parent administrative data for this cohort to identify a set of social complexity risk factors, such as poverty and parent mental illness, that have either a known or hypothesized association with suboptimal health care use. Using multivariate analyses, we examined associations of each risk factor and of number of risk factors with the rate of ED use. Nine of 11 identifiable social complexity risk factors were associated with a higher rate of ED use. Additionally, the rate increased as the number of risk factors increased from 0 to 5 or more, reaching approximately twice the rate when 5 or more risk factors were present in children aged younger than 5 years (incidence rate ratio = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.85-2.00) and in children aged 5 to 17 years (incidence rate ratio = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.99-2.14). State administrative data can be used to identify social complexity risk factors associated with higher rates of ED use among Medicaid-insured children. State agencies could give primary care medical homes a social risk flag or score to facilitate targeted screening and identification of needed resources, potentially preventing future unnecessary ED use in this vulnerable population of children.

Payment Reform to Enhance Collaboration of Primary Care and Cardiology

The US health care system faces an unsustainable trajectory of high costs and inconsistent outcomes. The fee-for-service payment model has contributed to inefficiency, and new payment methods are a promising approach to improving value. Health reforms are needed to increase patient access, reduce costs, and improve health care quality, and the landmark Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act presents a roadmap for reform. The product of a collaboration between primary care and cardiology clinicians, this review describes a conceptual approach to delivery and payment reforms that aim to better support primary care-cardiology comanagement of chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few existing alternative payment models specifically address long-term management of CVD. Primary care medical homes and accountable care organizations come closest, but both emphasize primary care, and cardiologists have often not been well engaged. A collaborative care framework should articulate distinct roles and responsibilities for primary care and cardiology in CVD comanagement. Finally, a series of payment models aim to better support clinicians in providing accountable, seamless, and patient-centered cardiac care. Clinical leadership is essential during this time of change in the health care system. Patients often struggle to navigate a fragmented and expensive system, whereas clinicians often practice with incomplete information about tests, treatments, and recommendations by their colleagues. The payment models described in this review offer an opportunity to create more satisfying approaches to patient care while improving value. These models have potential to support more effective coordination and to facilitate broader health care system transformation.

UPMC Prescription for Wellness: A Quality Improvement Case Study for Supporting Patient Engagement and Health Behavior Change.

Addressing patient health and care behaviors that underlie much of chronic disease continues to challenge providers, medical practices, health systems, and insurers. Improving health and care as described by the Quadruple Aim requires innovation at the front lines of clinical care: the doctor-patient interaction and office practice. This article describes the use of Lean Six Sigma in a quality improvement (QI) effort to design an effective and scalable method for physicians to prescribe health coaching for healthy behaviors in a primary care medical home within a large integrated delivery and financing system. Building on the national Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded Prescription for Health multisite demonstration, this QI case study provides important lessons for transforming patient-physician-practice support systems to better address lifestyle and care management challenges critical to producing better outcomes.