Patient Medical Home

A Patient Medical Home (PMH) is where patients and their families feel most comfortable discussing their health. A flexible vision for family practice, it is the central hub for comprehensive health services centred on the individual. In a PMH, family physicians work collaboratively with their patients and teams of health professionals to provide seamless, coordinated care. Together, they establish and strengthen their relationships, enabling timely access and the best possible outcomes for individuals and communities.


The PMH model has grown and evolved over several decades. The timeline below illustrates its rise across North America and the milestones that led Alberta to mandate a PMH for every Albertan.

PMH Timeline

Location

The American Academy of Pediatrics coins the term "medical home."

Learn More 1967
Location

Institute of Medicine mentions the medical home in a report that redefines primary care.

Learn More 1996
Location

Seven U.S. family medicine organizations recommend pursuing medical homes for all Americans.

Learn More 2002
Location

Alberta establishes Primary Care Networks to improve coordination and access to care.

Learn More 2003
Location

The American College of Physicians releases four policy positions supporting the medical home.

Learn More 2006
Location

All major American primary care physician associations endorse the patient-centred medical home.

Learn More 2007
Location

A survey of seven countries finds medical homes are associated with significantly more positive experiences.

Learn More
Location

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) recommends the medical home concept.

Learn More 2009
Location

The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) recommends the patient-centred medical home as a start for their vision of primary care.

Learn More 2010
Location

The CFPC presents the Patient’s Medical Home as a vision for family practice.

Learn More 2011
Location

The AMA Primary Care Alliance Board makes medical homes a goal of PCN Evolution.

Learn More 2013
Location

Enhancing the delivery of care by providing a health home for every Albertan is one of three strategic directions set out by Alberta Health in Alberta’s Primary Health Care Strategy.

Alberta Health commits to providing a health home for every Albertan.

Learn More 2014
Location

Family physicians ratify a PCN governance framework supporting medical homes.

Learn More 2017
Location

The CWC PCN launches a new membership model based on the Patient Medical Home.

2018
Location

The CFPC released their revised vision for Canada, The PMH 2019, which reflects current realities while supporting the same core principles as 2011.

Learn More 2019

At the CWC PCN our mission is to build and sustain a community of Patient Medical Homes. The programs and services we deliver in partnership with our family physicians are designed to support this mission.


To learn more about the Patient Medical Home model, visit the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the CFPC’s official PMH site and the Alberta Medical Association.

Become a physician member
If you are a physician interested in becoming a member of the CWC PCN, please contact our memberservices [at] cwcpcn [dot] com team. We are dedicated to supporting physicians, patients and primary care with clinical practice tools, patient care resources and Patient Medical Home support.