The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) now recognizes Nebraska Medicine's primary care clinics as Level III Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), the highest recognition level for a primary care clinic. This model of care puts patients at the forefront and this recognition assures that the Nebraska Medicine clinics have a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, behavioral health providers, and nutrition therapists working together to improve care.
“It's a no-brainer for patients. Rather than breaking up their care, we can provide all the resources patients need at their ‘home’ clinic,” said Stephen Mohring, MD, assistant professor division of general medicine-academic, medical director of Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic, and medical director of PCMH, Nebraska Medicine. “This model of healthcare really tries to put the patient at the center of care and makes use of an entire team of professionals to provide high-value, comprehensive care in one location.”
When a patient goes to an appointment at a Nebraska Medicine primary care location, because of PCMH, they not only see their physician but have other needs addressed by the clinic social worker, dietitian, pharmacist and behavioral health provider.
“Now that is patient-centered, team-based care,” said Mohring. “No longer do we have to practice on an island, trying to be and do everything for our patients. We can collaborate with other professionals to ensure patients receive the best care.”
Thomas G. Tape, MD, MACP, professor and chief, division of general internal medicine, first learned about the PCMH concept at an American College of Physicians (ACP) meeting in 2007.
“It was summarized as ‘medicine the way it should be,’” he said.
Tape began looking into the possibility of trying the PCMH model at UNMC. Dr. Lynell Klassen, then Chair of the department of Internal Medicine, felt that the model should first be implemented at the Midtown resident clinic so that UNMC residents could practice in a state-of-the-art clinic while implementing best practices in ambulatory primary care. With support from the UNMC Physicians practice, the division of General Medicine and the College of Pharmacy, the beginnings of the PCMH transformation team emerged. The addition of dedicated pharmacy, behavioral health and social work resources to Midtown was a landmark change in the delivery of care at that clinic. The Midtown Clinic has been using the PCMH model since 2010 and has served and improved the health of some of the highest-risk patients in Omaha.
Following the success of the Midtown clinic, Nebraska Medicine decided to invest in primary care and turn 13 more of its clinics into PCMH clinics.
“This is a paradigm shift for Nebraska Medicine,” said Mohring. “This certification shows what we as primary care physicians care about most – our patients. It signifies that administration places a high value on primary care by investing heavily in these additional resources. Most importantly, it lets our patients know the kind of care they can expect.”
Patient-centered care is now in place across all of Nebraska Medicine’s clinics and the teamwork among physicians, providers, nurses and staff that first began at the Midtown clinic is still the benchmark for 14 primary care locations.
“The PCMH model allows physicians to work with a health care team to improve patient outcomes. It also encourages each member of the team to practice at the top of his or her license,” said Tape. “Not only do patients receive better care, it also helps increase the joy of medical practice.”