Jeremy Proffitt

Medical Home Index

The Medical Home Index (MHI) is a validated self-assessment and classification tool designed to translate the broad indicators defining the medical home (accessible, family-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, etc.) into observable, tangible behaviors and processes of care within any office setting. It is a way of measuring and quantifying the "medical homeness" of a primary care practice. (Source: CMHI)

Medical Home Practice-Based Care Coordination Workbook

This workbook includes the tools and supports needed for a primary care practice to develop their capacity to offer a pediatric care coordination service; particularly for children with special health care needs. (Source: CMHI)

A medical home consists of a Primary Care Provider (physician or nurse practitioner), pediatric office staff, allied health care professionals, the child/youth, the family, the family's community, and pediatric subspecialists (if necessary).

The Medical Home approach is important because...

• Advances in health care have made it possible for increasing numbers of CYSHCN to be cared for in the home and community, but doing so requires a new system of approaches to providing care.

• All pediatric and family practices have CYSHCN (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs)  to be cared for in their practice.

• A medical home provides acute, chronic, and preventive medical care services. Preventive services (physical exams, developmental screenings, patient/family focused education, immunizations, access to community-based services) promote optimal health.

• Patient satisfaction is increasingly used by insurance companies as a measure of quality of care.

Pediatric practices who participate in the EPIC-IC Medical Home Initiative are motivated by a desire to improve quality of care for children and youth with special health care needs in a cost-effective manner.

A child with "special needs" refers to any child who has or is at risk of developing chronic conditions which require health services of a type and amount not usually required by children of the same age. This includes conditions such as asthma, ADHD, rare genetic disorders, congenital heart defects, severe allergies, developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioral health needs, and hundreds of other disorders.

CYSHCN stands for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. Recent survey data from the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 13% of children nationwide have special health care needs.

The goal of the Medical Home Initiative is to provide CYSHCN with health care services that are accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally-competent.

In a Medical Home, health professionals and families work as a team to access all medical and non-medical services necessary to help children reach their full potential.

NICHQ (National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality)

Medical professionals can browse the conferences and training sessions offered by NICHQ.