TY - JOUR
KW - chronic care
KW - patient centered medical home
KW - Social Work
AU - M. Hawk
AU - E. Ricci
AU - G. Huber
AU - M. Myers
A1 - 
AB - The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) has been hailed as one method of improving chronic care outcomes in the United States. A number of studies have underscored the importance of the social work role within the PCMH, yet little existing research explores the social worker as a driver of improved patient care. The Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative was created with a primary goal of increasing the number of practices that were recognized as PCMH by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This article describes findings from in-depth qualitative interviews with representatives from seven primary care practices, in which the authors examined barriers and facilitators to implementation of the initiative. Barriers to implementation included small practice size, payer-driven care, not having a strong physician champion, variability within patient populations, and high implementation costs. Facilitators included having a social worker coordinate behavioral health services, clinical nurse case managers, preexisting models of outcomes-driven care, and being part of an integrated health delivery and financing system. Recommendations strengthening the role of medical social workers in primary care practices are discussed.
BT - Social work in public health
C5 - Education & Workforce; Medical Home
DO - 10.1080/19371918.2014.969862
JF - Social work in public health
N2 - The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) has been hailed as one method of improving chronic care outcomes in the United States. A number of studies have underscored the importance of the social work role within the PCMH, yet little existing research explores the social worker as a driver of improved patient care. The Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative was created with a primary goal of increasing the number of practices that were recognized as PCMH by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This article describes findings from in-depth qualitative interviews with representatives from seven primary care practices, in which the authors examined barriers and facilitators to implementation of the initiative. Barriers to implementation included small practice size, payer-driven care, not having a strong physician champion, variability within patient populations, and high implementation costs. Facilitators included having a social worker coordinate behavioral health services, clinical nurse case managers, preexisting models of outcomes-driven care, and being part of an integrated health delivery and financing system. Recommendations strengthening the role of medical social workers in primary care practices are discussed.
PY - 2014
SN - 1937-190X; 1937-190X
SP - 1
EP - 10
EP - 
T1 - Opportunities for Social Workers in the Patient Centered Medical Home
T2 - Social work in public health
TI - Opportunities for Social Workers in the Patient Centered Medical Home
U1 - Education & Workforce; Medical Home
U2 - 25496040
U3 - 10.1080/19371918.2014.969862
VO - 1937-190X; 1937-190X
Y1 - 2014
ER -