Question

Discuss why coordinated care delivery approaches, such as PCMHs or ACOs, might improve care for patients. Discuss barriers and opportunities for implementation of such coordinated care delivery approaches.

The general public equates the word “health” with “health care.” Polls asking people about their health typically result in responses about their health care experiences. How do you define health? How would you assess a population’s health if you could ask people in that population only one question on the survey?

Answer 1

1)PCMH i.e Patient Centered Medical Home & Accountable Care Organizations(in the US) are Health Care Models designed to provide best medical care at least economic burden to the patient(s).

• The following are the reasons why they might improve care for Patients.
• They make Health Care "Accessible" to patients.
• They help provide "Comprehensive" healthcare.
• The Healthcare provided is "Longitudinal" meaning it flows much better from top(provider) to bottom(reciever).
• These models help provide "coordinated care" for families and community so that they do not have to individually consult different healthcare professionals or institutes.
• Government Health Programs have a much better reach and effect on the population.
• It is financially benefical both for patient as well as health care providers or the Government.

2)The Barriers for implementation of such schemes are:

• Limited resources like Time,Fund etc.
• Lack of Man-power and failure to recruit &/ retain health care providers.
• Lack of technological tools.
• Lack of infrastructure.
• Requirement and maintenance of a standardized record system.

3) "Health" is defined as per WHO as "a state of complete physical,mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."However,the concept of Health remains much more dynamic and variable in the minds of people.
Some also define Health as "ability to adapt and manage physical,mental and social challenges throughout life."
4)If only One question was to be asked to people to assess health of a population,i would ask them to rate from 1-10 their "perceived quality of life" because Health after all comes down to the subjective feeling each person has about themselves.
I hope this answers all the questions!