The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently released the names of its first certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Content Experts, including two people from the medical school’s Regional Extension Center: Jordon Schagrin, MHCI and Randy Yniguez, RN, MS.
As the U.S. health care system evolves, national and state initiatives are placing an increased emphasis on documenting improved patient outcomes. As part of that effort, health plans and physicians will be required to show they are improving care through programs such as the meaningful use of electronic health records and adopting the medical home model.
That model of primary care focuses on providing patients with a physician-led team that focuses on the whole person, tracks outcomes and uses health information technology to measure best practices and results of care. The model has great potential to reduce healthcare costs for patients, and improve patient engagement and public health. To encourage the adoption of such strategies, payers are beginning to provide incentives to healthcare providers who adopt the patient-centered medical home model.
The United States has more than 5,000 recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home practices and health reform advocates are looking for ways to expand those numbers.
With certified PCMH experts, the UCF Regional Extension Center is prepared to assist primary care physicians in Central Florida in achieving recognition as medical homes and to help them navigate electronic health records and other Health IT solutions.
“Our goal is to improve the health of our entire community by helping providers increase the quality of care as they reduce costs,” said UCF REC Executive Director Josue F. Rodas. “We are honored to be among the nation’s first recognized leaders in helping physicians become patient-centered medical homes.”