Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model aims to provide patient-centered care, lower costs, and improve health outcomes. Medical students have not been meaningfully integrated in this model.
Aim: To test the feasibility of a longitudinal clerkship based on PCMH principles and anchored by PCMH educational objectives.
Setting: Two community-based family medicine clinics, one academic internal medicine clinic, and one pediatric clinic affiliated with an urban medical school.
Participants: 56 medical student volunteers.
Program description: We embedded student teams in existing faculty practices and recruited a high-risk patient panel for each team. Clinical education occurred through a traditional clinic preceptor model and was augmented by 3rd and 4th year students directly observing 1st and 2nd year students. Didactic content included monthly Grand Rounds conferences.
Program evaluation: Students attended 699 clinics, recruited 273 continuity patients, and participated in 9 Grand Rounds conferences. Student confidence with PCMH principles increased and attitudes regarding continuity were highly positive. "Continuity," "early clinical exposure," and "peer teaching" were the most powerful themes expressed by students. Faculty response to the pilot was highly positive.
Discussion: An Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) is feasible and is highly rated by students and faculty. Expansion of this model is underway.