Assessing Practice Readiness

There are a number of tools available to help practices measure their progress implementing the PCMH model and to document the structures and processes that are in place.

These include:

Medical Home IQ - MHIQ

NCQA PCMH

Medical Home Index

AAP - Building Your Medical Home

ACP - Medical Home Builder

Medical Home IQ - MHIQ
The MHIQ is a free, web-based self-assessment tool developed by the AAFP’s TransforMED initiative designed to let practices assess the degree to which they have developed the structures and processes that support the medical home model. The MHIQ is available at TransforMED MHIQ (click on the Medical Home IQ link to start the assessment). The MHIQ provides a cross-walk to the longer (fee-based) NCQA PCMH 2011 Standards' must pass elements.

NCQA  PCMH 2011
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has developed the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) tool as a means for practices to document the structures and processes they have in place that support the PCMH model. The NCQA PCMH assessment includes 6 “Standards” that are scored using a point system that assess practices PCMH functionality using a 3-level scoring system (Level 1, 2, 3), with a minimum score of 35 points and 6 “must pass” elements needed to reach Level 1 designation. The NCQA charges practices a fee for using this tool, and for certifying practice scoring on the tool. More information on the NCQA PCMH tool can be found at NCQA  PCMH.  A list of Maine PCMH practices achieving NCQA recognition can be seen at Maine NCQA PPC-PCMH.

Medical Home Index
Another free assessment tool is the Center for Medical Home Improvement’s “Medical Home Index” which is available for both pediatric and adult primary care practices at Medical Home Index.

AAP – Building Your Medical Home
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed a free online tool called “Building Your Medical Home” available at AAP Medical Home.  The Toolkit is designed for pediatric practices to support the development and/or improvement of a pediatric Medical Home. It also prepares a practice to apply for and potentially meet the NCQA PPC-PCMH recognition program requirements. The AAP created a crosswalk between each of the Toolkit building blocks and the NCQA PCMH Recognition Program 'must pass' elements.

ACP – Medical Home Builder
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed an online tool to assess practice capacity called the “Medical Home Builder”.  The tool is available for a modest fee, and offers several options for practices to conduct a self-evaluation of their practice.  See more information at ACP Medical Home Builder