D epartment of M edicine
Con ne c ti ng T e c h n o lo g y , Ed uca t i o n a n d D i s cove ry w ith H um anis m in Me dicine
Vol. 13 Issue 2 Apr 2024
Improved Patient Care: Post PCMH Designation Recently, the Internal Medicine Resident Clinic was recognized and earned the (PCMH) Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the PCMH model aims to deliver high quality primary care while also remaining cost-effective. This model maintains effective chronic disease management, improves patient and physician satisfaction, and increases the level of preventative care in addition to many other benefits. According to Dr. Williams, the Resident Clinic Medical Director, gaining this designation allows the clinic to expand in important ways such as hiring a Patient Engagement Coordinator, Rachel Wilson, as well as a data analyst, Shelby Moses. With these new additions, enhanced data-gathering improves engagement with our patients about their day-to-day needs. The designation also provided enough funding to hire these staff members, with little to no negatives in terms of clinic performance and expanded the clinic’s hours of operation. Overall, more patients are seen day-to-day, despite some new time slots being hard to fill. We are confident that this new model of care will be a great pathway to success for years to come! Since earning the PCMH designation, the model of care does not appear to have any negative long-lasting effects on resident’s well-being or the staff’s workload. There is a slight increase in responsibilities for the residents because they have to stay on top of double-checking quality care codes for each patient encounter. Fortunately, a new system that is currently being implemented, will significantly reduce these timely coding requirements. The increased workload for the clinic staff has been manageable and as a positive side effect, required administrative staff to be more engaged with the frontline clinic staff. Therefore, with the PCMH model in place, our clinic is more cohesive than ever before! With stream-lined data collection, the PCMH model allows for more efficient monitoring of clinic patient data and the easier formation of
new and necessary Quality Improvement (QI) projects. Currently, our internal medicine interns and residents are split into three groups; all of whom are assigned to a specific QI project post-PCMH designation. These projects focus on three main areas: Osteoporosis, Colon Cancer Screening and Breast Cancer Screening. A fourth medical topic of interest is focused on closely monitoring and controlling hypertension as part of the Tennessee Heart Health Projects. Our clinic has already been participating in this health tracking goal but it’s been even better captured post-PCMH designation. Clearly, the Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care has improved our resident clinic. This is true not only from a patient-care perspective but also from both an administrative and resident point of view. With this model, we are able to attain more funding and achieve a gradual improvement in the day-to-day operations of our Internal Medicine Resident Clinic!
Points of View
There was excitement in accurately diagnosing a patient’s condition and seeing them get better with treatment brought a great deal of satisfaction and even joy. An under-appreciated aspect of practicing medicine is how intricately a doctor’s well-being is associated with the wellness of their patients! Today, we face a harsh reality. Many physicians are battling with frustration and burnout. What has changed in the medical profession to rob physicians of their happiness, and how can we restore the joy in medical practice? From my vantage point, most physicians are unwavering in their dedication to their patients. They often put their own physical and emotional well-being on the line to prioritize the needs of those they serve. If a physician lacks the desire to aid their patients, then perhaps they have chosen the wrong profession. So, what has changed to make physicians feel disillusioned and cynical about their careers? There could be continued on page 2
JOY IN MEDICINE What makes someone want to become a doctor? This question may not have a simple answer. When I harken back to my childhood, I distinctly remember “treating” my friends with injections and pills. I see that exact reflection in my granddaughter’s “Doctor Kit.” There’s a stethoscope, tongue depressor, syringe, reflex hammer, and Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair even an otoscope and ophthalmoscope in that box. She was so thrilled to listen to her heart with the stethoscope! Later, as a medical student, I wanted to learn as much about medicine as possible to be the “best” doctor for my patients. 1