HomeWhat's New American Innovation Attracts International Health Care Group's Attention

American Innovation Attracts International Health Care Group's Attention

10/26/2007

New Zealand Health Care Team Sees TransforMED Medical Home as Strategic Vision for Sustainable Future

By Rhondda Francis and Kim Pierceall

LEAWOOD, Kan. — As the national spotlight on health care intensifies, the prospects of fixing the imperiled U.S. health care delivery system often seem dim. But a fact-finding team of health care experts from the other side of the globe has discovered a bright spot in a new American healthy care delivery model that puts patients at the center of a "personal medical home."

New Zealand-based Harbour Health recently visited the U.S. to see first-hand how Family Medicine practices are putting innovative theories into practice successfully with TransforMED's Medical Home model. TransforMED is a medical practice redesign group systematically studying and implementing changes medical practices can make to better meet the needs of both patients and providers.

TransforMED is midway through its two-year practice redesign initiative at 36 physician offices and health care centers nationwide which is aimed at building a more nimble, patient-friendly kind of Family Medicine practice. The project incorporates flexible scheduling, online consultations, electronic medical records, and other technological advances to give patients easy access to comprehensive medical care.

TransforMED is affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Harbor Health Chief Executive Susan Turner was "blown away" by what she saw. "We started out looking around at what was being done in other countries — especially the U.K., Canada, Australia, and the U.S. — and we found TransforMED. It was just amazing. Our values were the same as TransforMED's. and our physicians group's concerns matched what TranforMED has identified as the issues...We were just so impressed with the work...TransforMED could well be the international answer to making primary care the robust hub of our health care system."

The traveling research group is seeking to address problems in their own health care system that are strikingly similar to problems in the U.S., including a decline in young doctors selecting General Practice as a specialty. The New Zealand team also sees similarities between their environment and rural, underserved communities in the U.S., such as the TransforMED national demonstration project participants at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kan., and Trinity Clinic Whitehouse, Whitehouse, Tex.

In addition to observing innovations at several pilot project practices, Turner and her team participated in TransforMED's recent Learning Collaborative in Kansas City where doctors, nurse practitioners and other team members participating in the pilot project shared ideas and learned more about emerging tools and processes being implemented by their colleagues across the nation.

AAFP President Rick Kellerman, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., rallied physicians and nurse practitioners attending the Learning Collaborative: "We need to try and see our practices through the eyes of patients. I think that's what the 'personal medical home' is all about." This perspective is key to TransforMED's goal: building strong relationships between patients and their primary care doctors so that their doctor's practice becomes their "medical home," a place they routinely turn to for preventive care and to manage chronic conditions.

Dr. Kellerman's closed by saying, "The doctor will see you now...those words are a benediction of hope for those who are sick, depressed, discouraged and need our help. That's why we're here. That's what TransforMED is all about. And that's the future of family medicine."

TransforMED staff and attendees at the Learning Collaborative were also moved by Turner's words in the language of her Maori ancestors:

"Kia piki ake te organe o nagai iwi katoa. May wellness of all people begin now."

Both Harbour Health and TransforMED are exploring opportunities to build a partnership in the future.  The New Zealand team embodied these hopes by presenting TransforMED with a wall plaque that displays three traditional Maori symbols carved from materials native to their land: a greenstone or "pounamu" Maui's hook which represents prosperity, a white cow bone double-twist that represents friendship and an iridescent "paua" shell that connotes beauty.

Turner said that to her these symbols mean that "with optimism and spirit New Zealand and TransforMED can work together in friendship toward prosperity for primary health care providers through creativity and innovation."

 "We really enjoyed hosting the New Zealand team," said Terry McGeeney, a family physician and TransforMED's CEO.  "We have much in common and much to share. We look forward to expanding our collaboration."

About Harbour Health

Based in Aukland, New Zealand, Harbour Health was launched in April 2007 out of the Harbour Primary Health Organisation (Harbour PHO) to develop a community engagement process with health service providers, other PHOs and the local community in order to work collaboratively to promote positive health outcomes. Often health service providers and PHOs have worked independently, sometimes providing the same service for the same community. Harbour Health seeks to connect services more effectively in order to improve patient care. For more information, visit www.harbourhealth.org.nz.

About TransforMED

The Leawood, Kan.-based TransforMED LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Established in 2005, TransforMED provides ongoing consultation and support to physicians looking to transform their practices to a new model of care that is based on the concept of a patient-centered medical home. TransforMED is an active member of primary care communities and recognizes and supports the unique value that primary care offers to patients and the health care system. TransforMED shares and supports the idealism and altruism of primary care physicians and the strong commitment to their communities and patients through continuing patient relationships and independent decision making. TransforMED offers practices both products and services, including consultation and advice on implementing the patient centered medical home model. To learn more about TransforMED, visit www.transformed.com.