Home care model increases patients' access while reducing costs

The patient-driven model creates “medical neighborhoods” between hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
The patient-driven model creates “medical neighborhoods” between hospitals, nursing homes and schools. | File photo
A recent study has shown that medical home care model has increased overall primary care for patients while reducing overall health care cost.
An article recently published in the Annal of Internal Medicine showed that patients in this type of model have shown increased relief from chronic illnesses, and adherence to individualized patient treatment.
Medical home health care models are based around a primary care provider, either a primary care physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioners. The primary care provider acts as the “go-to” person for a patient in helping to coordinate treatment between other health providers and facilities such as hospitals.
But the model is more than streamlining patient care; it is also designed to spread health awareness to communities. It does so by building what is called “medical neighborhoods,” or collaborations between hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
The model has drawn the attention of CVS Health, which partnered with the Health is Primary campaign and Family Medicine for America’s Healthy in 2015.
The partnership was formed with hopes to streamline primary health care with quick and easy access to necessary medication for patients with chronic illnesses.