Patient-Centered Medical Homes More Likely to Provide Preventive Counseling to Pediatric Patients

Children and adolescents receiving care at patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) are generally more likely to receive preventive counseling services, according to an AHRQ-funded study in Academic Pediatrics. The PCMH model is defined as providing care that is comprehensive, patient-centered, coordinated, accessible and committed to quality and safety. Drawing on data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, researchers analyzed 4,814 pediatric patients who received care at a PCMH or a non-PCMH provider. Compared with patients who received care from non-PCMH providers that undertook only one of two quality-related activities, PCMH patients were 10 percentage points more likely to receive counseling against smoking, 13 percentage points more likely to receive counseling on healthy eating, and 12 percentage points more likely to receive counseling on exercise. Access the abstract.