Patient-Centered Medical Home
What is a patient-centered medical home (PCMH)?
PCMH is a model for primary care that puts the patient in the center of their healthcare. The healthcare you receive is comprehensive, accessible, and focused on quality and safety. This patient centered team-based model of care is headed by your primary care provider and is coordinated with all your healthcare providers; from specialists to nurse care managers and pharmacists.
What to expect
What can you expect from our patient centered medical home model? At Anchor Medical, you and your family/care givers will experience a personal relationship with a healthcare team, who is dedicated to meet your healthcare needs and helping you achieve your healthcare goals. You can expect to receive personalized care reminders and follow-up calls, coordination of care with your specialists, self-management tools and community resources.
Like any team, your patient-centered medical home works best when everyone knows their role and follows through.
Your team's role is to:
- Customize your care to meet your needs.
- Help you set appropriate health goals, and work with you to meet them.
- Provide supplemental resources such as patient education, or support groups so you are better equipped to accomplish your goals.
- Make sure you understand what you need to do to successfully meet your goals and answer any questions you might have.
- Help you understand all your options for care and decide what care is best for you.
- Respond in a timely manner to your phone calls or electronic messages sent through the Patient Portal.
As the leader of your team, your primary care provider additionally:
- Takes time to learn about you as a person including; your lifestyle, family situation, family history and your preferences.
- Provides preventive and wellness care, as well as short-term care for acute illnesses, and long-term care for chronic diseases and conditions.
- Coordinates your care with your healthcare team.
- Notifies you of test results in a timely manner.
- Reminds you of your patient responsibilities.
Access to services
We make it convenient for you to get the care you need, when you need it. Our practice offers same-day and next-day appointments. We also have extended hours; including early mornings, evenings, and weekend mornings in some of our locations, as well as after-hours phone access so you don't necessarily need to go to an Emergency Room to receive the care you need.
Access to medical information
We provide you with convenient and secure access to your electronic health record from most internet connected devices. Our patient portal provides you a complete, up-to-date snapshot of your health, making it easier for you and your family/care givers to participate in your care, and allows you to electronically communicate with your healthcare team for non-urgent matters.
Patient responsibilities
You are a full partner when it comes to your healthcare. It is your responsibility to supply the members of your team with the information they need to provide you with the best possible care.
For your convenience, here are some checklists of things to do before, during and after your appointment to maximize your experience.
Before Appointment
- Make a list of all the medications you are currently taking, if at all possible. This includes prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or antacids, vitamins, dietary or herbal supplements. Be sure to write down for each of the medications you are taking, the following: Medication name, strength, how much and when you take it, reason for taking, and the name of who prescribed it. Feel free to use the list medication form to aid you in this task.
- Make a list of all the doctors and clinics you see.
- Write down all the questions you want to ask during your appointment in order of importance, such as: questions about specific medicines, medical tests, procedures or surgeries, or lifestyle issues such as nutrition or exercise.
- Be prepared to provide information about your current medical conditions, past surgeries and illnesses, including dates. You’ll also want to be familiar with your family’s medical history. This information can be critical when it comes to providing you with the best possible care.
- Be familiar with your health insurance coverage, and contact your insurance member services department if you have any questions about your benefits.
During Appointment
- Come prepared to present your insurance card, photo identification and applicable copay payment upon check-in.
- Provide your list of current meditations so we are sure to update them in your medical record
- Give your list of all the doctors and clinics to your provider so we can be sure to coordinate your care
- Make your health care provider aware of any changes in your health and your condition(s) since your last visit. Also tell us about changes in the health of any of your family members that may help us take better care of you!
- If you have an existing health care plan, discuss what components of it have worked well for you and what components need tweaking. Your health care provider can adjust the plan to fit your individual needs.
- Discuss your health issues and be sure you understand what you need to do for each one. Ask your health care provider which one(s) you should work on first.
- Go through your list of questions, beginning with your most urgent or important ones. Be sure to ask how you can reach your care team after hours.
- Be sure you understand the instructions your provider gives you before you leave the office. We don’t mind repeating or using different words to explain!
- If you haven’t already done so, speak with a healthcare team member about registering for our Patient portal.
After Appointment
- Follow the plan that you and your health care provider discussed. If you have ANY questions about your treatment plan, be sure to call us or send us a portal message (if non-urgent). We want you to understand how to take the best care of yourself.
- Pick up prescriptions from your preferred pharmacy and take your medications as order by your provider. If you have ANY questions about your medicines, be sure to call us.
- Perform any lab test at your preferred lab, if ordered by your provider
- Call us if you haven’t received test results within the time your provider told you to expect your results.
- Contact us after hours if your issue can’t wait until the regular office hours. We can still help direct your care.
- Pay your share of any fees incurred for your care.
- Keep your appointments
- Ask your specialists and other providers you receive care outside the office to provide us with a note of your care.
- Tell us how we are doing! We want to hear from you.