HomePartners & Projects Nat'l Demonstration ProjectNDP Background FFM New Model

The New Model

The new model is an integrated set of best practices. As described by the Future of Family Medicine (FFM) report, the new model of care proposes transformational redesign of both the work and the workplaces of family and primary practices in order to better serve the changing needs of patients, physicians, and practice teams.

The key concept that underpins the new model is the relationship-centered personal medical home for all patients, which serves as the focal point through which all individuals— regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status participate in their health care. The personal medical home includes a necessary and consistent set of acute, chronic, and preventive medical care services that are accessible, accountable, comprehensive, integrated, patient-centered, safe, scientifically valid, and satisfying to both patients and their physicians.

The new model also calls for broad deployment of continuously proven methodologies and technologies that improve diagnosis and enhance treatment and outcomes. It recognizes that improved practice management in the form of business plans and reimbursement models will be required to enable these transformed practices to thrive as personal medical homes, while informational resources will be necessary help patients make an informed choice in a personal medical home.

The new model has both a patient focus and a systems focus, and is comprised of 11 core components:

• Personal medical home
• Patient-centered care
• Team approach to care
• Elimination of scheduling and communication barriers
• Advanced, data-based information systems
• Data-based information systems, including electronic health records (EHR)
• Redesigned, more functional offices
• Integrated, whole-person orientation
• Focus on quality and safety
• Sustainable reimbursement and more profitable practices
• Commitment to provide family medicine's consistent set of services

These elements are achieved through a number of practice innovations including the following:

• Open access scheduling
• Online appointments
• Electronic health records
• Group visits
• Electronic visits
• Chronic disease management
• Web-based information
• Leveraging and engaging clinical staff
• Clinical practice guideline software
• Outcomes analysis
• Alternative reimbursement models