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What is a
Medical Home?
A medical home is not a
building – it is a family-centered approach to comprehensive care that is a
partnership between a child, the child’s family and the child’s primary health
care setting. Through this partnership, a family works with health care experts
to find and access the medical and non-medical services that the child needs.
Receiving care through a
medical home can improve a child’s health and make life easier for the child’s
family. A medical home care team can include doctors and nurses, therapists,
dentists, pharmacists, community health workers, school staff, friends,
neighbors and anyone else who cares for your child.
Components
of a Medical Home
- Accessible
– services are provided within the child’s and family’s community and someone
is able to help the child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Family-Centered
Care – the family is recognized as the expert in the child’s care and is a
valued member of the care team who contributes to decision making.
- Continuous
Care – the child is able to see the same pediatric health care
professionals over time and are supported during the transition to adulthood.
- Comprehensive
Care – the child’s care includes check-ups and preventative care, primary
care and specialty care. The child and family are connected to support and
education opportunities.
- Coordinated
Care – the child’s care team works with multiple providers and the family
to develop a plan of care, book appointments, handle referrals and provide
access to resources in the community.
- Compassionate
Care – the medical home care team are genuinely concerned about the overall
wellbeing of the child and family
- Culturally
Competent Care – services are delivered in the child’s and family’s
preferred language and the care team respects the family’s cultural and
religious beliefs.
Joint
Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home
On November 10, 2008, the American Medical Association (AMA) voted to adopt the "Joint Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home," joining the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association in endorsing the principles.
The key elements of the medical
home are based on recognized standards of child and adolescent health care.
They are documented in policies and best practice guidelines by recognized
professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
A more thorough definition from
these and other professional organizations includes the physician-patient
relationship, quality of health care, infrastructure, and payment system that
will result from ongoing, comprehensive, cost-efficient, and effective health
services.
Medical
Home Brochures
The Maternal & Child Health Section developed brochures to
help families and providers understand the importance of the medical home
model. To order brochures, please use our online order form.
Genetics
Resources
- The Mountain State Regional Genetics Network
The Mountain State Regional
Genetics Network is one of seven regional networks covering the nation. The
purpose of the network is to help families connect to genetic services and
resources. The network also strives to help providers better understand
available services so that they are comfortable making referrals for genetic
testing.
Free Continuing
Education (CE) Courses
Texas Health Steps’
award-winning online education program offers free CE courses for primary care providers
and other health professionals. These courses offer updated clinical,
regulatory and best practice guidelines for a range of preventative health,
oral health, mental health and case management topics, including medical home.
Additional
Medical Home Resources
- The National Center for Medical Home
Implementation (NCMHI)
publishes comprehensive resources on medical home for a variety of
stakeholders. The NCMHI also provides support, training and technical
assistance to medical practices, clinicians, families, and communities.
- The Texas Parent to Parent Medical Home
Toolkit explains what a medical home is and how to get one.
- Navigate Life Texas
includes tips for families including how to work with your child’s doctor to
create a medical home
- Texas Medical Home
Initiative is a nonprofit, practitioner led organization whose mission is
to promote the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model of care in Texas.
- AMCHP National
Standards for Systems of Care for CYSHCN
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs just released a
new interactive website for the National Standards for Systems of Care for
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Version 2.0. This tool
strives to serve the nation’s 14.2 million children and youth with special
health care needs. Version 2.0 of the National Standards for Systems of Care
for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs sets the core components
for the structure and process of effective systems of care while streamlining
content for easier use by states and stakeholders. Visit the website here: http://cyshcnstandards.amchp.org/app-national-standards/#/ - Cultural and
Linguistic Competence Health Practitioner Assessment
- The National Center for Cultural
Competence has developed a self-guided tool to improve delivery of culturally
competent services for diverse populations. Clinicians who complete the
self-assessment will receive a report with professional development and
educational resources related to cultural and linguistic competence.
View the tool
The Texas Department of State Health Services does not endorse external links to other websites. These links are informational and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information
about Children
with Special Health Care Needs, Title V Maternal and
Child Health or information regarding maternal and child health in Texas,
please email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7373.