Patient-Centered Medical Home courses unveiled for medical school

Four major primary care physician groups released the "Joint Principles for the Medical Education of Physicians as Preparation for Practice in the Patient-Centered Medical Home." The principles are designed to guide medical school curricula so that physicians, regardless of specialty choice, will have the expertise to practice in a delivery system based on the Patient-Centered Medical Home, according to the groups.

The four groups represented are: the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association.

The principles are geared to ensure medical students understand and can act on the elements that comprise the medical home, including: Leadership within the healthcare team, the healthcare community and the community at large; communication that enhances care coordination among all members of the healthcare team and the patient's family; coordination that helps patients navigate the complex healthcare system and take advantage of community resources; and use of evidence-based medicine and clinical support tools, quality improvement and performance measurement, and health information technology that supports patient care, patient access, and communication.