Health care reform: Possibilities & opportunities for primary care

Alternative approaches. To deliver the continuum of care that is central to new Moving primary care culture to a physician-led, team-based approach is one of the most difficult tasks when transforming an organization's care delivery model.care delivery models and shift the culture of primary care toward a PCMH, physicians can implement a number of clinic-based engagement approaches—interacting with patients via e-visits such as e-mail through a secure portal, telemedicine, and group medical visits, for example. Physicians can encourage patient participation by starting patient interest groups and advisory panels²⁹—recommended by the NCQA and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and used at our institution—and conducting patient needs assessments on a regular basis. Opportunities for primary care practices to engage with the community include partnering with local health departments, churches, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations to conduct health promotion and educational activities.

CORRESPONDENCE
Randy Wexler, MD, MPH, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 2231 North High Street, Northwood and High Building, Columbus, OH 43201; randy.wexler@osumc.edu