Monthly Archives: January 2015

Georgetown Pediatrics: Your Patient-Centered Medical Home

Georgetown Pediatrics is proud to be your Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).  Just what is that, you may wonder?  As defined by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, PCMH is a way of organizing primary care that emphasizes care coordination and communication to transform primary care into “what patients want it to be.”

Medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve your child’s and your physician’s experience of care.

Essentially, with input from your family, a PCMH offers a patient-centered approach with our team of medical professionals and technology to provide the best possible care for your child.

In a PCMH like ours, your care team:

  • Is available 24/7 if you need them.  You can communicate with your team by phone or email, and you can get an appointment quickly, even on the same day if needed.
  • Knows your child and remembers your health history.  They know enough about your child’s personal or family history to suggest treatment options that make sense for your child.
  • Makes sure you understand your child’s condition(s) and how to take care of them.  They help you sort through your options and make decisions about your child’s care.
  • Helps you coordinate your child’s healthcare—even if they are not giving the care themselves.  They will help you find specialists, get appointments, and make sure those specialists have all the information they need.  Your PCMH team will also be sure you know what the specialists say and what it means for your child.

Who is part of the PCMH team?  The PCMH team will work like many athletic sports teams.  There is the primary doctor (Head Coach), nurse (Assistant Coach), as well as other health care professionals who may assist in your child’s care, such as:  pharmacists (Defensive Coordinators) and physical therapists (Offensive Coordinators).  Your family caregivers are also included in your child’s team (fans).  With a team approach and the input from your child’s “coaches” and “fans,” your child will feel like a “Star Player” of the team—with a championship level of care!