The term “medical home” was first introduced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1967. In 1992, the AAP published a policy statement defining the Medical Home concept, which has evolved considerably since its inception and has been adapted as a standard of care by many other professional organizations. The Medical Home model is viewed as an ideal model of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and is founded on the four following principles:

• family-centered partnership
• community-based system
• transitions
• value

As the ideas of the Medical Home and patient- and family-centered care have taken root, many practices and organizations have undergone changes to implement these concepts in a myriad of ways. Because there is growing evidence that this model fulfills the “Triple Aim (improved patient experience, increased quality, and decreased costs”), both private and public payers continue to improve compensation for the added infrastructure and services that are needed to build and sustain medical homes.

Building a Medical Home usually means adding on to the foundation of an existing primary care practice. Many of the components will already be part of your practice – becoming a Medical Home then involves reinforcing the infrastructure, enhancing skills, focusing on office systems and improving quality, and integrating partnerships with families and collaborations with other healthcare providers. Many practices now seek recognition and credentialing as a certified “medical home” using programs that adhere to the Joint Principles of the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), a standard recognized by multiple physician organizations. Some organizations use the terminology: Family-Centered Medical Home (FCMH). The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Programis one of the most respected program for practices to evaluate and improve their medical home services and achieve recognition as a “Medical Home.”

The Medical Home team includes families and patients, clinicians, support staff, and care coordinators. This section of the Medical Home Portal provides more information needed to understand what the Medical Home is all about, how to build a Medical Home to provide optimal family-centered care, and tools to help coordinate care and advocate for children and youth with special needs. Please let us know what additional topics you are most interested in - use the Feedback button at the bottom of the page.