Washington, D.C., March 25, 2008—The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has adopted a formal position on the "medical home" model of health care delivery, which provides patients with a coordinated, comprehensive approach to primary care.

The position statement was developed and proposed by the AAMC Advisory Panel on Health Care (composed of representatives from within and outside the AAMC) and approved by the association's Executive Council last month.

In the medical home model of health care delivery, the ongoing relationship between care provider and patient is essential. A medical home ensures around-the-clock access to medical consultation, respect for a patient's cultural and religious beliefs, and the comprehensive coordination of a patient's care among providers and community services.

"Many Americans, even among those with comprehensive health insurance, feel 'medically homeless' and lost in a system that is difficult to navigate when they require care," said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. "We believe the medical home model holds great promise for improving Americans' health by ensuring that they have an ongoing relationship with a trusted medical professional."

The AAMC position statement affirms the following principles:

• Every person should have access to a medical home-a provider or team of providers to help patients navigate the system-with whom there is a continuous relationship.
• Further research and evaluation of the medical home model is needed, and more evidence must be gathered on how the model is best implemented.
• Payment for the medical home model should appropriately recognize and reward providers for prevention, care delivery, and coordination.
• Health care providers should be trained to understand and implement the medical home model within a team environment.
• The AAMC should work with medical schools and teaching hospitals to develop a better understanding of how the medical home model can be adopted in academic and community settings.

"As the health care workforce is increasingly challenged to provide care for a growing population of aging and chronically ill citizens, it is critical that patients have access to effective care for both prevention and treatment," said Dr. Kirch.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 131 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 128,000 faculty members, 75,000 medical students, and 110,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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