A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests it’s convenience and continuity:
As primary care practices for children implement aspects of the medical home model, those that emphasize same-day sick care and professional continuity are more likely to meet parents’ preferences for enhanced access.
As Pediatric Alliance inches towards earning the national, regulatory credentials to officially call ourselves a “Patient-Centered Medical Home,” this study confirms what we have been working so hard to create over the past two years: “Your home for quality pediatric care.” In order of importance, these are what parents are looking for:
- Guaranteed same-day sick visits.
- Professional continuity. (Parents want to see the same faces, with consistent approaches to pediatric medicine.)
- Access to 24-hour telephone advice plus non-urgent email advice.
- Evening hours 4 or more times per week.
- Weekend hours. (Even if they are limited.)
Parents were willing to travel 14 minutes to access same-day sick visits in a typical pediatrician’s office and 44 minutes to access a broader-service facility.
Parents don’t want pediatricians to close their doors during daylight hours on weekdays (no lunch breaks, I’m guessing). Waiting more than 4 weeks for a well-child appointment was also met with significant resistance from parents in this study.
Read more on the concept of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) on our website here.
(Photo: Amy McGarrity, M.D., Pediatric Alliance — St. Clair Division)