The Patient At The Center

National Partnership for Women and Families Medical Home Principles

A broad coalition of more than 25 of the nation's leading consumer, labor and health care advocacy groups developed a set of principles designed to help healthcare providers, lawmakers, employers, and health plans consider consumer interests as they develop delivery system reforms such as the “medical home." 

The nine consumer principles are:

1. In a patient-centered medical home, an interdisciplinary team guides care in a continuous, accessible, comprehensive and coordinated manner.
2. The patient-centered medical home takes responsibility for coordinating its patients’ healthcare across care settings and services over time, in consultation and collaboration with the patient and family.
3. The patient has ready access to care.
4. The patient-centered medical home “knows” its patients and provides care that is whole person oriented and consistent with patients’ unique needs and preference. 
5. Patients and clinicians are partners in making treatment decisions.
6. Open communication between patients and the care team is encouraged and supported.
7. Patients and their caregivers are supported in managing the patient’s health. 
8. The patient-centered medical home fosters an environment of trust and respect. 
9. The patient-centered medical home provides care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, patient-centered and family-focused. 

To view the National Partnership's Medical Home Principles, please click here.