A patient-centered medical home (PCMH) provides the majority of its patients’ physical and mental health care, including prevention and wellness, chronic care, and acute care, in a team-oriented patient-centric environment. PCMHs coordinate prescriptions, making sure patients are supplied and compliant. New research by Michele Heisler indicates that PCMH patients taking meds for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure have better adherence rates than their counterparts. Heisler says that PCMHs may have higher upfront costs for “investing in electronic health records and monitoring and tracking systems,” but by “providing more organized and patient-centered care, the aim is that patients won’t have to use emergency rooms or be admitted to the hospital as often, which ultimately would save money for payers and be better for patients.”

More about Heisler discusses advantages of the medical home model for treating patients with chronic conditions requiring medications >