Comprehensive Primary Health Care Offered Now to More Ohioans

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced today that Ohio now has more than 500 nationally recognized patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practices delivering primary health care services across the state. The PCMH care model is one that facilitates partnerships between individual patients and their personal healthcare providers. In collaboration with its partners, ODH continues to promote statewide expansion of PCMHs in order to enhance access to primary care, improve health outcomes, enhance the patient experience and to ensure healthcare in Ohio is affordable. 

“The Ohio Department of Health recognizes that medical practices must work hard to transform their practices and become patient-centered medical homes,” said Richard Hodges, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “I appreciate the efforts of the many practices, health care providers and partners around the state who have worked to achieve this milestone and improve the health of many Ohioans. “

“The goal is to give Ohioans the quality of care and information they need to increase their level of health at every stage of life,” said Greg Moody, director of the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation. “This will help further reduce the overall cost of care through prevention and wellness.”At the core of the PCMH approach is a personal primary care provider who coordinates and integrates a person’s overall medical care. The model also incorporates safe and high quality care, enhanced access to care and payment that recognizes the added value that patients receive. Care is managed using tools such as patient registries (database), information technology and health information exchanges to provide patients with the appropriate care when and where they need it.