What is a medical home?

Patient-Centered medical home is a way to provide health care for adults, youth and children with a partnership between the physician, or primary care provider, patient and family.

The American Academy of Pediatrics introduced the medical home concept in 1967 to identify a central archive for a child’s medical record. In 2002, the Academy expanded the concept to describe primary care that offers patients timely access to medical services, enhanced communication between patients and their health care team, coordinated continuous care, and an intense focus on quality and safety.

In 2007, four physician organizations released a set of principles called The Joint Principles of the Patient Centered Medical Home which describe the characteristics of a medical home for patients of all ages. These principles are endorsed by:

The Department of Health uses these principles as a working definition of medical home, with the understanding that nurse practitioners and physician assistants also lead medical homes, particularly in rural settings.

For the complete list of medical home principles, visit the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative Web site.

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.

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Documents posted in .pdf version on the Department of Health Web site will be made available in an alternative format on request to users who are unable to download or view .pdf files on the Web. To request an alternative format, contact Gary Holt.