On Thursday at AHIP Institute I had the pleasure of presenting a medical home case study with my colleague Elaine Olzawski, senior director of health care management at BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma. We were incredibly impressed with the turnout (standing room only!!) and the discussion and interaction that ensued. I think it was a clear indication of the way interest in the medical home has just exploded in recent months and a sign that the concept is and will continue to impact the future of healthcare in the United States.
My approach to the session was to provide something of an overview of the medical home model, while Elaine shared some real-life experiences from the pilot program our organizations are working on in Oklahoma. That really resonated with our attendees and prompted some interesting discussion about the differences between commercial versus government-run medical homes and the role that pharmacy plays in the execution of the concept. Elaine and I emphasized the importance of IT as the backbone of a successful medical home and how it can enable the communication, decision support, and outcomes tracking and reporting requirements necessary for success.