The Joint Commission will expand the process of accrediting ambulatory healthcare organizations next July to those interested in becoming a primary care home provider.
The primary care home offers patients more access to a primary care provider or team, tracks and coordinates care delivered by other providers and facilities, uses evidence-based treatment protocols and focuses more on patient and family education and self-management. This is designed to to ensure that a patient receives timely and appropriate treatment and help accredited organizations increase patient satisfaction, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
The Joint Commission initiative will complement the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program and is consistent with healthcare reform efforts to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of healthcare services, officials say. It is designed to combine the improvements in quality of care and patient safety through accreditation with reimbursement from third party payers when the additional requirements of a primary care home are met.
“This new optional program will help ensure that patients receive ambulatory care services in a manner that is comprehensive, accessible and coordinated. By focusing on carefully orchestrating care, patient outcomes can be improved,” said Michael Kulczycki, executive director of the Joint Commission's Ambulatory Healthcare Accreditation Program.
Standards for the Primary Care Home Initiative will be posted for a field review in November, and pilot testing is expected to begin in early 2011. Final standards are expected by March 2011, and on-site surveys will begin in July 2011.
A panel is guiding the development of supplemental ambulatory care accreditation standards for organizations that elect the primary care home option. A broader advisory and resource group, which includes representatives from national and state organizations and trade associations, will provide additional guidance.
The Joint Commission is seeking feedback from Medicare and Medicaid officials and insurance companies to ensure that primary care home standards will enable organizations to be recognized as primary care home providers.