What is a major characteristic of a Patient Centered Medical Home?

A major characteristic of a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is the coordination of care across different healthcare settings. This concept emphasizes a team-based approach, where various healthcare professionals come together to provide comprehensive care tailored to the patient’s needs. The PCMH model promotes the idea that patients should receive continuous and connected healthcare, which requires effective communication and cooperation among primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and other services.

This coordination helps prevent fragmented care, reduces the risk of duplicative tests and services, and improves patient outcomes overall. The focus is on ensuring that all aspects of a patient's healthcare journey are addressed seamlessly, enhancing the overall patient experience and supporting better health management.

In contrast, the other options highlight aspects that do not align with the principles of a PCMH. For example, emphasizing individual physician management without team involvement contradicts the collaborative nature of the PCMH model. A focus on treating individual symptoms overlooks the broader objective of promoting holistic health. Lastly, the idea of providing care exclusively to low-risk patients would limit the patient base and does not reflect the inclusive approach that is central to the PCMH philosophy.