NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition program was developed to identify medical practices that have invested in a model of care that puts patients at the forefront and where continuous quality improvement is a priority. A practice must pass all 40 core criteria and at least 25 credits (we met 28) of elective criteria across concept areas.
For practices to receive this Recognition, they must meet standards in six areas:
- Team Based Care and Practice Organization: Practices are evaluated on leadership structure, care team responsibilities, how they engage with patients, families and caregivers.
- Care Management and Support: Practice clinicians use care management protocols to help them identify patients who need closely managed care.
- Know and Manage Patients: Practices must meet standards for data collection, medication reconciliation and evidence-based clinical decision support.
- Care Coordination and Care Transitions: Practices ensure that primary and specialty care clinicians share information and manage patient referrals.
- Patient-Centered Access and Continuity: Practices provide patients with convenient access to clinical advice and continuity of care.
- Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement: Practices have processes for measuring their performance and for quality improvement activities.
