Chronically ill adults who received care from a medical home were likely to fare better than those who did not, according to an international Commonwealth Fund survey.
The survey included more than 18,000 sicker adults in the United States and 10 other countries, including Canada, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The study identified patients as having a medical home if they reported having a regular source of care that knows their medical history, is accessible and helps coordinate care received from other providers.
Across the wide diversity of healthcare systems included in the study, patients who were connected to a medical home generally had more positive care experiences, including better support for managing chronic conditions, better communication and better care coordination. Patients with medical homes were also less likely to report medical mistakes and far more likely to rate their care highly.
Sicker adults in the United States notably had the highest rates of problems paying medical bills and going without needed care because of the cost. Forty-two percent of surveyed U.S. patients did not visit a doctor, did not fill a prescription or skipped medication doses or did not undergo recommended care — a significantly higher proportion than in all the other countries surveyed.
The survey also found shared challenges among countries, including gaps in care coordination and lapses in communication between specialists and primary care physicians.
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The survey included more than 18,000 sicker adults in the United States and 10 other countries, including Canada, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The study identified patients as having a medical home if they reported having a regular source of care that knows their medical history, is accessible and helps coordinate care received from other providers.
Across the wide diversity of healthcare systems included in the study, patients who were connected to a medical home generally had more positive care experiences, including better support for managing chronic conditions, better communication and better care coordination. Patients with medical homes were also less likely to report medical mistakes and far more likely to rate their care highly.
Sicker adults in the United States notably had the highest rates of problems paying medical bills and going without needed care because of the cost. Forty-two percent of surveyed U.S. patients did not visit a doctor, did not fill a prescription or skipped medication doses or did not undergo recommended care — a significantly higher proportion than in all the other countries surveyed.
The survey also found shared challenges among countries, including gaps in care coordination and lapses in communication between specialists and primary care physicians.
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