Patient-Centered Medical Home model arrives in Norton Sound
Nome, Alaska – A new era of care is beginning at the Norton Sound Health Corporation. After moving into a state-of-the-art facility in Nome in 2013 and implementing a fully integrated electronic health record in 2014, the corporation is poised to enhance health care in a new way.
NSHC is taking a team approach in order to help patients navigate the healthcare system. The Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model that has been implemented in health organizations nationwide, and it now has taken root in the Bering Strait region. At its core, the system is focused on Population Health Management, which allows practices to identify prevalent health needs and determine how to prevent or meet those needs.
For starters, patients will be connected to a medical team, consisting of healthcare providers and case managers.
Patients in Unalakleet, Saint Michael, Stebbins, Shaktoolik, and Koyuk belong to the “River Team.” The “Tundra Team” consists of patients in Elim, Golovin, White Mountain, Savoonga, Shishmaref and half of Nome. The other half of Nome, Gambell, Wales, Teller, Diomede and Brevig Mission patients are on the “Mountain Team.”
With a team of people working on your care, your providers will be more up-to-speed on your medical history, and they’ll be able to suggest treatment options that make sense for you. Case managers will play a proactive role in the team, working with you and your doctors for preventive health screenings, disease management and providing outreach for total wellness. The goal of this approach is to improve wellness and prevention, as well as travel efficiency and medication services. With the Cerner electronic health record in place, there will be an easy transition for patients throughout the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
Implementation is underway, and you may notice the next time you have an appointment that you’ve been assigned to a team. Ask your provider to learn more about your team and who your point of contact should be.
With this new approach, NSHC patients can count on access, prevention and consistency for years to come.
Media Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Specialist, at (907) 443-9674
