The Family- Professional Partnership
A Medical Home means that:
The primary care physician and other health care providers
- Know the child’s history
- Listen to the parents’ and child’s concerns and needs
- Work in partnership with families to ensure that the medical home and non-medical needs of the child and family are met
- Create a trusting, collaborative relationship with the family
- Treat the child with compassion and understanding
- Offer a Case Manager / Care Coordinator for our chronic / high risk patients
- Co-Manage Care with behavioral healthcare providers and other specialties
- Develop a care plan with the family for their child when needed
The parents and child
- Are comfortable sharing concerns and questions with the child’s primary care physician and other health care providers
- Routinely communicate their child’s needs and family priorities to the primary care physician, who promotes communication between the family and other health care providers when necessary
GOALS OF A MEDICAL HOME
Medical Home is based on the need to:
- Develop ways that families and professionals work in partnership
- Recognize and respect the abilities one brings to the working relationship
- Acknowledge trust as necessary to the relationship
- Favor open communication
- Create a culturally effective atmosphere
- Illustrate mutual commitment of families, professionals, and communities to meet the needs of children with special health conditions
MAKE EACH MEDICAL HOME APPOINTMENT WORK FOR YOU!
- Before the appointment, write down your questions and concerns
- Pack some comfort items like books, toys, snacks and extra clothes
- If your child see specialists, ask them to send their reports to your child’s doctor
- Bring complete medical history including self-referrals, ER visits
- Bring a list of the medications your child takes regularly to the appointment
- At the appointment, relax, ask questions and take notes! Tell your doctor when something is not clear
- Ask your doctor to explain the care and treatment plan and put it in writing
- Ask when you should schedule your child’s next appointment
- After the appointment, put your child’s medical information in one place-ready for the next appointment
A MEDICAL HOME PHYSICIAN Ensures Care That Is:
ACCESSIBLE
- Care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
FAMILY CENTERED
- Recognition that the family is the principal caregiver and the center of strength and support for children
CONTINUOUS
- Same primary pediatric health care professionals are available from infancy through adolescence
COMPREHENSIVE
- Includes sick and well care as well as education and community referral needs
COORDINATED
- Families are linked to support, educational, and community based services
COMPASSIONATE
- Concern for well-being of child and family is expressed and demonstrated
CULTURALLY EFFECTIVE
- Family’s cultural background is recognized, valued and respected