Medical home interventions and quality outcomes for older adults: a systematic review

Medical home care has been identified as a model for improving primary care delivery and population-specific quality and safety outcomes. Questions remain how this model affects older adult quality. This systematic review addresses 2 important questions: Are quality and safety outcomes associated with medical home and patient-centered interventions, and how is quality studied in older adult primary care research?

The authors searched MEDLINE for articles that examined interventions that were associated with medical home principles. Each article was evaluated using a standardized data abstraction form. Studies were categorized according to how interventions influenced specific quality and safety outcomes-improved clinical and treatment measures and care delivery processes-for older adults.

Thirteen research studies were identified by the authors. A great deal of variety exists in both research design and how quality and safety outcomes for older adults are operationalized in primary care. In general, studies indicate potentially beneficial relationships between 3 types of medical home interventions targeting health care utilization, disease management, and patient-provider communication to improved quality outcomes.

It would be advantageous for practices looking to align with patient-centered medical home quality and safety goals to consider the needs of older adults when redesigning care delivery.