Westside Internal Medicine, LLC is a PCMH (Patient-Centered Medical Home) practice. These standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement.
Achieving recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home is an important validation of the steps we have taken to ensure comprehensive, continuous care for our patients. Most of our patients have chronic diseases, and the standards and procedures required for recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home also ensure that the care we are providing for them results in the best outcomes and reduces unnecessary costs. Our Practice also transitions patients from pediatric care to adult care by addressing physical activity, drugs and alcohol, safe sex and other teenage topics during a wellness exam.
What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?
Health insurance companies across the country are working with primary care practices to establish what’s known as a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). PCMHs are not actual houses, but a central medical practice and doctor who oversees all the needs a patient may have, and then coordinates with other healthcare providers to make sure the patient receives any specialty care, therapy or additional services needed to live as healthily as possible.
How will my care change if I am a patient of a PCMH practice?
Patients who have a PCMH doctor will get quality care and should notice a few differences. Here’s an example: If you come to our Center and our provider decides you need to see a specialist (heart doctor, lung doctor, etc.), physical therapist, home health services, respiratory therapist or any other medical provider, you can do so. What’s the difference? The difference is that OUR providers will be overseeing your treatments, communicating with the specialists or therapists about your progress then your provider from OUR CENTER will adjust your care and treatment plan as needed. This means one provider oversees your treatment plan, that you don’t fall through the communication cracks, and you get better care overall.
What does it mean for you?
Westside Internal Medicine provides evidence-based care in a team setting. Clinicians work together within and outside Westside Internal Medicine family including doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, specialists, and administrative staff, urgent care, on-call physicians and most importantly YOU, the patient, play a critical role in the care team.
Westside Internal Medicine coordinates care for patients to setup appointments with specialists (ie. Cardiologists, Endocrinologist, Surgeons, etc.) as well as working to help get patients scheduled for follow-up appointments with their primary care providers after the patient has been in the hospital are two important elements of the Patient Centered Medical Home.
As a Patient Centered Medical Home, your care team works to obtain your records from specialists and hospitals so they can get a complete picture of your health and make informed decisions on your treatment. Your care team will also work with you to help you set goals to help improve your health and quality of life. The care team’s goal is whole person care, including addressing mental health concerns.
On the main webpage of Westside Internal Medicine’s website provides office location, hours, and how to request an appointment. There is a number new patients can call to schedule an appointment or they can request an appointment online by clicking the “Book an Appointment” link. Westside Internal Medicine monitors the policy and procedures and updates the website with information about office hours, telephone numbers, and contacts with any changes.
Westside Internal Medicine opens its doors at 7:30am every morning from Mon-Fri to accommodate patient’s needs. Additionally, should you need care after regular business hours; providers on call at Westside Internal Medicine will instruct the patient on what to do depending on the severity of the illness.
Patients, in order to serve you, it’s important for you to provide your care team with information on the medications you are currently taking, any visits you’ve had with specialists, hospital or ER visits, with your medical history, your health status, any test results, self-care information including goals to effectively serve you best.
We are available 24/7 by phone with same day and after hour access, preventative medicine, test tracking, goal setting, self-management support, follow-up care, and recommendations, added resources to help patients take ownership and manage their care, and how PCMH focuses on the patient’s mental health concerns.
Self-management Tools
Westside Internal Medicine, LLC is proud to be a Patient Centered Medical Home—where your care and your health are at the center of everything we do. Request an appointment online to get started or call our office at (864) 576-5764 for more information.
Resources
Information on Patient Centered Medical Home
Diabetes
ADA Tool Kit for Patients
- Recipes for DM
- Brochure from DM initiative covering exercise, healthy eating, and smoking
- Brochure for eating, moving, and dm
- Stages of change for DM (MI tool)- could be used to determine what goals to set w/ pt.
- DM goal setting
- Making a plan (Eat healthy, be active, manage my weight, cope with stress, set goals, stop smoking, prevent dm related complications, check glucose, take meds)
- www.diabetes.org
- www.dlife.com
- www.cdc.gov/diabetes
Hypertension and Heart Health
- Learn more about high blood pressure or hypertension
- High Blood Pressure Overview
- HTN Log- questions to ask your MD- pre-visit planning, goals: 3 in one!
- Physical Activity, nutrition, weight management, smoking cessation, stress management
Smoking Cessation
- Tobacco Addiction Overview
- Smoking Cigarettes: How Do I Quit?
- Guide to Quitting Smoking
- Quit smoking booklet: Kick the Habit