The "Medical Home" Concept at Children's Clinics

This is what Children's Clinics is all about! - Providing a comprehensive "Medical Home" for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN). Children's Clinics provides and promotes delivery of care utilizing a "Medical Home" concept which embodies the following characteristics:

Accessible

To the extent possible, a wide range of services is provided at one location, including primary care, specialty care, ancillary and support services. The delivery model facilitates interdisciplinary care and collaboration between multiple providers and allied health professionals.

Care is provided in or linked to the child's community

• By providing access to on-site primary care for CSHCN living in Pima County
  
• Through ongoing two-way communication between specialists and with the child's primary care provider (PCP) when off-site and/or outside Pima County

A variety of insurance coverages, (including CRS, AHCCCS, and contracted private HMO's or commercial insurance) are accepted and changes are accommodated whenever possible.

Screening and enrollment for a variety of publicly-funded health insurance programs is available on-site at the Children's Clinics - our enrollment office staff assists families in applying for AHCCCS (Title XIX), KidsCare (Title XXI), Premium Sharing, Tobacco Tax or Proposition 204 coverage, in addition to the Children's Rehabilitative Services (CRS) program.

Family-Centered

The family is recognized as the principle caregiver and center of strength and support for children. Unbiased and complete information is shared with the family and child on an ongoing basis. Families are supported in their choices.

Input on clinic operations and performance is actively solicited from families and children through the activities of the Parent Action Council, patient feedback, focus groups and surveys.

A wide variety of special family-oriented programs and support groups are sponsored by or linked to the clinic facility.

Continuous

The same primary pediatric health care professionals are available from infancy through adolescence and other ongoing provider relationships are enhanced or maintained across systems of care.

• By providing a primary care option on-site and contracting with all AHCCCS plans and other private plans whenever possible.
  
• By coordinating benefits and care across payor systems to maintain continuity of relationships with clinical and professional staff whenever possible.

Patients and families receive information and assistance with important transitions through linkages with other providers and community agencies i.e. primary care linkages, school systems, home health, social service agencies, advocacy groups, and transitions to behavioral health and adult care systems.

Comprehensive

Health care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• On-site primary care physicians and pediatric endocrinologist are on-call after hours and weekends for urgent or acute care needs.
  
• Families are informed about how to access urgent or emergent care and encouraged to contact their PCP for acute needs.

Preventive, primary, specialty and tertiary care needs are addressed.

Coordinated

Families are linked to support, educational and community-based services through the clinics' Patient & Family Services department.

Information is centralized through a unified medical record that incorporates all aspects of the care provided - from primary care to specialist services; including ancillary diagnostic, therapeutic and tertiary services.

Compassionate

Concern for the well being of the child and family is expressed and demonstrated.

Culturally Competent

The family's cultural background is recognized, understood, valued and respected.

The medical home model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics [Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs. For more information visit the AAP website.