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PCMH Symposium Provided Scientific Assembly Attendees a Full Day Learning Opportunity

10/14/2009

Dr. Cindy Kizer, National Demonstration Project self-directed practice and panel presenter.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 TransforMED staff presented a patient centered medical home (PCMH) learning collaborative entitled "The Transformation Journey to a PCMH" to a standing room only crowd at the AAFP’s Scientific Assembly in Boston.

The symposium drew attendees from all over the United States and represented a vast array of family medicine practices.  From Defining the role of the PCMH and New Health Payment Paradigms for the 21st Century presented by TransforMED CEO and President Dr. Terry McGeeney to the panel of providers representing practices from the National Demonstration Project (NDP) and current medical home demonstration pilots, who spoke on the challenges of sustaining change, the presentations were well received with many questions and comments following each presentation.

Other TransforMED presentations at the learning collaborative included: Preparing Your Practice for Transformation and Change presented by Christine Barbara Johnson, PhD; Care Management at the Point of Care and for Patient Populations presented by Diane Cardwell, NP/PA;  Managing Inside the Box: Improving Practice Financial Performance presented by Jim Arend, MBA;  and The PCMH Transformation: the Importance of the Journey as well as the Destination presented by Elaine M. Skoch, RN, MN, EMBA.

Jim Arend presents on practice financial performance to a full house.

Many of the attendees sought out TransforMED at the PCMH booth in the AAFP Marketplace to ask further questions, seek additional information on how to transform their practices and to learn about the tools and services offered by TransforMED.

The energy and enthusiasm for the patient centered medical home was palpably different this year from last year, reflecting what many of the physicians referred to as "the reason they went into medicine in the first place."

While many recognized that payment reform is a part of the movement, the real emphasis that seemed to touch their hearts was being able to practice medicine in an environment that allowed them meaningful time with their patients. It was clear from participant comments that they understood the importance of the "health care partnership" in care delivery.

Also of great interest is the fact that many residency programs reached out to TransforMED to help them define their effort to integrate PCMH content and principles into their residency programs.

Find out more about TransforMED's Medical Home Facilitation services and how they can help improve your practice.

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.