(PRWEB) May 08, 2012

MHMD, the physician network of Houston-based Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, has begun work with TransforMED to transform six of its Houston-area medical practices into patient-centered medical homes (PCMH). TransforMED is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a national leader in medical home transformation. The MHMD initiative has the potential to initially touch the lives of nearly 75,000 Houstonians a number that will increase when the initiative is rolled out to nearly 220 primary care practices over the next two years.

A PCMH, known as Advanced Primary Care Practices, the centerpiece of the MHMD network, engages patients as active participants in their own health and wellbeing. Patients are cared for by a physician who leads a medical team to coordinate all aspects of their preventive, acute and chronic health care needs using the best available evidence and appropriate technology. These relationships offer patients comfort, convenience and optimal health throughout their lifetimes.

During phase one of the MHMD initiative, which began in October 2011 and runs through October 2013, TransforMED will provide full facilitation services to accelerate the adoption of the PCMH model of care and help practices earn Level 3 PCMH recognition by the National Committee on Quality Assurance. Practices that meet the stringent NCQA standards are believed to provide better care and better service at a reduced cost to patients and the health care system as a whole. In addition, health information technology is leveraged to give physicians better access to information and measurement tools geared toward managing and improving the health of large populations of patients.

TransforMED will also assist MHMD as it prepares to participate in Memorial Hermanns soon-to-be-established accountable care organization. An ACO is a primary care-based collaboration of health care professionals and health care facilities that accept joint responsibility and accountability for the quality and cost of care provided to a defined patient population. The core of an ACO is effective primary care, built on the foundation of the PCMH model. ACOs also employ new and innovative models of physician payment that are based on a variety of approaches to align incentives for quality, efficiency and cost reduction, as opposed to the traditional fee-for-service model. All MHMD primary care practices will be required to earn Level 3 NCQA recognition before they will be allowed to participate in Memorial Hermanns ACO.

We are pleased to be working with TransforMED to help our Advanced PCPs achieve their Level 3 NCQA Level certification as patient-centered medical homes, said Chris Lloyd, MHMD CEO. By adhering to quality measures and utilizing enhanced resources such as point-of-care tools, these practices will deliver a higher level of care, achieve better clinical outcomes and improve their ability to manage and track the health of their patients. Our goal is to attain optimal patient satisfaction, while ensuring more value for each health care dollar spent.

MHMD has enlisted TransforMEDs team of experts to train several MHMD staff members to become practice coaches. All during 2012, these coaches will receive intensive training from TransforMED in the areas of change management, case management, team-building, leadership development, practice efficiencies, developing and understanding practice metrics, and more. Then, in 2013, they will put their training to use as practice facilitators, helping approximately 100 additional primary care practices across the MHMD network adopt the PCMH model of care.

As the patient-centered medical home continues to emerge as a viable means of improving health care, lowering costs and improving physician and staff satisfaction, it becomes increasingly important for primary care practices and large health systems to work together toward this common goal, said Terry McGeeney, MD, MBA, president and CEO of TransforMED. We applaud MHMD and Memorial Hermann Healthcare System for their foresight and willingness to take important next steps to bring high quality, patient-centered primary care to one of the largest health care systems in the United States.

The Houston-area practices involved in the MHMD patient-centered medical home initiative are: