New concept: Patient-centered medical home

Priority Health is at the forefront of one of the hottest topics in health care: realigning the relationships between plans, patients and providers so that a primary care practice can act as a "patient-centered medical home" (PCMH).

In broadest terms, the PCMH is a model for primary care practices to deliver high-quality, comprehensive care more effectively and efficiently. We’re currently sponsoring one-year pilot projects at five in-network primary care practices, helping each to transform its practice and become a PCMH. Some of the key initiatives include:

• Same-day appointments
• After-hours access
• E-visits
• Highly accessible lab results
• Use of evidence-based best practices
• Use of health information technology — electronic medical records, electronic prescribing, practice websites and patient portals

"We want to help these offices build the infrastructure that makes it easier to do their work and report the results," says Bob VanEck, associate vice president for clinical quality improvement at Priority Health.

This approach to 21st-century health care has real benefits for employers, says Dr. Jim Byrne, chief medical officer at Priority Health. According to Byrne, employers will see fewer lost workdays, higher productivity and lower trends in health care costs.