Medical Group moves to new concept: Patient Centered Medical Home

  • Published
  • By Capt. Sandra Danial
  • 5th Medical Group
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Patient Centered Medical Home is a Department of Defense-wide primary care concept built on effective communication, enhanced patient care, appropriate competency and team ownership.

It is a way to create an enjoyable and productive health-care environment that promotes a team approach to meeting the patient's health care needs. The focus is on continuity of care, to ensure our patients are receiving care from their provider when needed.

With PCMH, the key is continuity. Previously, patients would occasionally find themselves seeing three or more different providers for the same issue. This can be frustrating to the patient as they explain the issue over and over again, as well as to the provider, who must encounter the frustration even though they are hearing about the issue for the first time.

With the PCMH concept, each team will consist of two to three providers and their support staff. If the patient's assigned provider is unavailable due to a deployment, leave or TDY, the provider's teammate will see the patient.

The goal of PCMH is for patients to be cared for by the same technician, nurse, provider and family health team each time they visit the clinic.

Better continuity means better overall medical management. All medical needs will be met by the PCMH team and the patient will not have to worry about seeing a different provider each time they visit the clinic since ultimately, they will remain within one team's care.

To enable this process, it may be necessary to re-align or re-assign some beneficiaries to a new PCM. To this end, the patient may receive a letter with the new PCM identified.

Internally within the 5th Medical Group, all providers are being assigned to teams. When a patient's provider is unavailable, the medical group will make every attempt to provide the patient with an appointment within the team before referring to off-base care.

During this time of transition, we would like to thank Airmen and their families for their patience. The medical group is working hard to increase our access to quality health care while providing it in the most efficient manner.

All patients may still call the appointment line at 723-5633 or visit www.tricareonline.com to make all appointments. For more information about Tricare benefits, visit the Tricare Service Center at the 5th Medical Group.