The Patient-Centered Medical Home: Preparation of the Workforce, More Questions than Answers

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Transformation
• Healthcare Workforce Policy

Background:

• The American healthcare system is undergoing significant transformation.
• The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is an emerging interprofessional primary care model.
• PCMH aims to optimize care delivery for patients through appropriate professionals, timing, setting, and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review initiatives for training professionals in the PCMH model.
• To identify successes and challenges in PCMH implementation.
• To propose policy recommendations for enhancing PCMH effectiveness and efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Review of local, state, regional, and national initiatives.
• Analysis of professional training programs within the PCMH model.
• Identification of barriers and facilitators to PCMH adoption.

Main Results:

• The review identified both successes and substantial challenges in PCMH training initiatives.
• Existing training models face difficulties in preparing professionals for the PCMH model.
• Policy and systemic factors significantly impact PCMH effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Adoption of an expanded primary care definition is recommended.
• Fundamental redesign of health professions education is crucial.
• Payment reform, responsiveness to local needs, and systems improvement are essential for PCMH success.
• Emphasis on quality, population health, and health disparities is vital for PCMH effectiveness.