PCMH Chief answers questions about UCC move

On April 1, the Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) at Guthrie moved into the Family Medicine Clinic (FMC). This initiative provides beneficiaries a single location to receive needed urgent care during and after hours and is the first step in moving toward a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) concept.

While the Fort Drum Community has adjusted to the move accordingly, some questions still exist about why the change took place. Dr. Aaron L. Wilson, Chief, PCMH, offers the following Question and Answer information, below, to further clarify.

Q1: Why did the Urgent Care Center move to the Family Medicine Clinic?
A1: Our goal is to provide patients enhanced access to their provider and care team during and after hours while providing additional space for troop medical care. This relocation is the first step toward this goal.

Q2: What benefits are derived from the UCC moving into Family Medicine?
A2: This will provide you, the beneficiary, with a single location to receive needed care during and after hours.

Q3: What is the Patient Centered Medical Home concept? How does moving the UCC into Family Medicine fit into this concept or initiative?
A3: Core Principles:

•  Each patient has an ongoing relationship with a primary care clinician providing first contact, continuous, comprehensive care.

• Primary care clinician leads a team of providers who collectively take responsibility for the patient’s health.

• The Medical Home focuses on all of the patient’s healthcare needs.

• The Medical Home coordinates and integrates across all elements of the healthcare system (i.e. internal and external specialists).

• The Medical Home emphasizes quality, safety, and health outcomes.

• The Medical Home provides enhanced access options (same-day appointments, expanded hours, phone and web-based access.)

Q4: What is the difference between Army Medical Home and Patient Centered Medical Home? I've heard both usages at Guthrie.
A4: Army Medical Home and Patient Centered Medical Home are essentially the same concepts. However, we presently fall under the Army Medical Home concept and upon fully standing up and achieving our optimal Patient-Centered infrastructure, will be called Patient Centered Medical Home.

Q5: Will other MEDDAC assets eventually move or merge into the Family Medicine Clinic?
A5: We anticipate within the next six to 12 months that Nurse Case Managers, Behavioral Health providers and Clinical Pharmacists will be embedded within Family Medicine to enhance your patient care experience

Q6: If Fort Drum Department of Defense civilian employees have an on-the-job injury, do they report to the Family Medicine Clinic for urgent care assessment, which has previously been handled at the UCC?
A6: Yes.

Q7: How will Army Medical Home Teams ensure Continuity of Care for Beneficiaries?
A7: We will make every effort to assign you an appointment with your provider and if your provider is unavailable, will assign you to a provider with the same medical home.

Q8: Will additional providers and medical staff be hired to ensure access to continuity of care is a reality?
A8: Yes, over the next 12 months we will be increasing our staff by more than 50 percent.

 USA MEDDAC will publish additional information about the PCMH concept as it becomes available.