February 1, 2010 - A Commonwealth Fund–supported study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine investigated the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities can be attributed to differences within physician practices—meaning they are potentially related to discrimination or differential treatment—or to differences between practices, an indication that minority patients tend to receive treatment in low-performing practices.
Literature Abstract
January 15, 2010 - A new Commonwealth Fund survey of safety-net clinic patients in New Orleans finds that, despite being disproportionately low-income and uninsured, these patients had fewer problems affording care and fewer instances of medical debt and inefficient care than most U.S. adults. The findings suggest that the locally based clinics could serve as a model for delivering primary care to vulnerable populations elsewhere.
Fund Report
January 7, 2010 - In a Health Affairs "Web First" article published Jan. 7, The Commonwealth Fund's Mary Jane Koren, M.D., takes a look at "culture change" in long-term care—how the growing movement to transform America's nursing homes got started, and where it might be headed.
In the Literature
December 29, 2009 - This Fund-supported study looks at a partnership that was formed between a New York City nursing home union and 40 nursing homes to help implement "person-centered care" at the facilities. Results showed an improvement in quality of life, with residents gaining more autonomy and privacy and many employees experiencing greater job satisfaction.
In the Literature
November 24, 2009 - Drawing on a recent Commonwealth Fund report, Making Care Coordination a Critical Component of the Pediatric Health System: A Multidisciplinary Framework, the authors of this Fund-supported article discuss strategies for coordinating care in medical homes. They report that having committed leadership and a process to shift care delivery from "reactive encounters" to "proactive interactions" are key to success.
Literature Abstract
November 3, 2009 - Patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) and accountable care organizations (ACO) are two critical elements of delivery system reform. Policy experts writing in the New England Journal of Medicine outline strategies for uniting these models so they can realize their full potential to improve coordination, increase accountability, strengthen primary care, and reduce health care costs.
Literature Abstract
October 16, 2009 - How much does it cost a physician practice to become a medical home and add new medical home features? A new Commonwealth Fund report finds less than a $1-per-patient difference in costs per month between physician practices with a high level of medical home attributes—such as evening office hours, electronic health record systems, and care management services—and those with lower levels.
Fund Report
October 8, 2009 - The Commonwealth Fund-supported study in Annals of Internal Medicine looks at primary care practices in Massachusetts and finds a strong association between clinicians' frequent use of advanced electronic health records and higher practice performance on quality-of-care measures.
In the Literature
June 23, 2009 - Since 2006 more than 30 states have initiated projects to advance medical homes in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and several states also are driving state-wide transformation. This National Academy of State Health Policy/Commonwealth Fund report provides state policymakers with examples of promising practices and lessons learned.
Fund Report
May 21, 2009 - This report proposes a framework for care coordination in a high-performing pediatric health care system. It includes a definition of care coordination; outlines its principal characteristics, competencies, and functions; and sets forth a detailed process for its delivery.
Fund Report
May 20, 2009 - At The Valley Hospital, hospital leaders exemplify on a daily basis the hospital's dedication to patient service.
Case Study
May 13, 2009 - Early findings from a Commonwealth Fund-supported evaluation of a two-year American Academy of Family Physicians demonstration suggests that medical home transformations require more money, time, and doctor and technology support than currently invested.
In the Literature
April 16, 2009 - An analysis of the organizational and market factors that affect primary care physicians' performance on
patient surveys found that physicians who work in larger groups, particularly integrated medical groups,
performed better on several measures of patients' experiences.
In the Literature
March 26, 2009 - Pediatric care providers do not routinely screen parents for basic social needs at well-child visits, according to this study of low-income parents and resident providers at a Baltimore pediatric clinic.
In the Literature
February 5, 2009 - A Commonwealth Fund-supported study of overweight and obese patients found disparities in how patients of different racial and ethnic backgrounds perceive the health effects of their weight. Health care providers can play an important role in helping patients understand the often serious implications.
In the Literature