Patient-centered Medical Home: A Model of Care at Summit Health

Rather than a place, the PCMH is an approach to providing primary care that is patient-centered, team-based, and focused on quality and safety. It establishes the patient’s primary care physician as the fundamental coordinator of the patient’s care.

As part of the PCMH model, the patient is at the center of care. His or her primary care physician communicates with other providers — such as specialists and subspecialists, pharmacists, and social workers — to integrate and coordinate care. It is a model of achieving primary care excellence by helping patients get the care they need when they need it.

The PCMH model has five main functions:

Provide comprehensive care.
Be patient-centered.
Help coordinate care.
Provide accessible services.
Commit to improving quality and safety.