Providence Medical Group Introduces Medical Home

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providence medical groupA new model of primary care, called a “medical home” is being unveiled by Providence Medical Group – Southwest Washington.  The concept of having all aspects of a patient’s care coordinated through one “medical home” is an effort to improve health care and lower costs.

“Patients usually only show up in some state of crisis, so all we ever deal with is the immediate situation,” says Paul Knouff, MD, lead physician at Providence Family Medicine East Olympia.

According to Dr. Kevin Haughton, Primary Care Chief for Providence Medical Group, primary care physicians are “now managing populations of people that have chronic disease states, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.”  However, some patients may not have any symptoms so they are not motivated to see a doctor until there is a crisis.

Dr. Haughton explains that in the new medical home culture, a patient is treated by a wide variety of clinicians prior to being seen by the doctor.  The health care team follows a protocol for coordinating the appropriate tests and referrals to specialists.  Once the checklist is complete, the patient then sees the doctor to discuss treatment.  “The result is more prospective rather than reactive care,” states Haughton.

Along the way, the health care team, operating at the top of their license, provides ongoing communication and wellness education to the patient.

providence medical groupOne feature of the medical home is the focus on prevention and whole body wellness.  “Medicine keeps moving along so now healthy people are suppose to be doing a bunch of things just to stay healthy,” states Haughton.  “By shifting to a medical home model patients have an easier time accessing care.”

Need a doctor?  Click here to find a Providence doctor currently accepting patients in Thurston County.

 

 

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