Journal of Healthcare Management - July/August 2013 - (Page 258)

s T U D E N T E s s A y The Patient-Centered Medical Home Solution to the Cost–Quality Conundrum Michael Ewing, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa E X E C U t i V E S U M M a r Y The U.S. healthcare system has been plagued by rising costs while achieving relatively poor-quality outcomes, and the situation continues to worsen. One solution is the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model of primary care. This model focuses on care coordination and development of long-term physician–patient relationships that are expected to lead to better quality care and higher rates of patient satisfaction than have previously been achieved. Although the PCMH features a number of core principles, significant differences are seen across models. Three of the most prevalent models are those offered by the American Academy of Family Physicians, National Demonstration Project, and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). After analysis, the NCQA approach emerged as the recommended model due to its specificity and comprehensiveness. Research suggests that the PCMH, and specifically the NCQA model, can achieve both increases in quality and reductions in cost. However, this finding is tempered by the challenges inherent in implementation. For more information about the concepts in this essay, contact Mr. Ewing at maewing90@hotmail.com. Mr. Ewing is the first-place winner of the undergraduate division of the 2013 ACHE Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management. For more information about this competition, contact Sheila T. Brown at (312) 424-9316. 258

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Journal of Healthcare Management - July/August 2013

Journal of Healthcare Management - July/August 2013
Interview With Wayne M. Lerner, DrPH, FACHE, Past President and Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Hospital
Culturally Competent Care
An Argument for the Integration of Healthcare Management With Public Health Practice
The Patient-Centered Medical Home Solution to the Cost–Quality Conundrum
From Acute Care to Home Care: The Evolution of Hospital Responsibility and Rationale for Increased Vertical Integration
Hospital Commitment to Community Orientation and Its Association With Quality of Care and Patient Experience
Innovative Human Resource Practices in U.S. Hospitals: An Empirical Study
Abstract from the Academy of Management

Journal of Healthcare Management - July/August 2013