The Program Evaluation of Services in a Primary Care Clinic: Attaining a Medical Home

Abstract

A program evaluation of a pediatric primary care training clinic was conducted using the criteria of a “medical home” set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A total of 107 parents completed questionnaires regarding demographics, satisfaction with care, and questions related to the definition of medical home. Medical providers completed questionnaires regarding demographics, job satisfaction, and community resources. Parents reported acceptable levels of satisfaction with the quality of care provided, and the essential parts of the medical home definition were met. There were several areas that were designated as having room for improvement, including shortening clinic wait times and instructing the medical providers to be more sensitive to cultural differences in beliefs about health and wellness. The concepts of medical home set forth by the AAP are attainable for pediatric primary care clinics, but routine evaluations may be needed to ensure that goals continue to be met.