Training Residents to Work in a Patient-Centered Medical Home: What Are the Outcomes?

Background The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) provides a setting to enhance resident training in systems-based practice. Few studies have addressed the impact of PCMHs on resident knowledge and confidence. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate resident knowledge, confidence, behavior, and patient outcomes in a PCMH. Methods Our curriculum emphasized patient panel report card interpretation, a telephone medicine curriculum, and interdisciplinary team-based care of chronic medical conditions. We measured resident satisfaction, knowledge, and confidence. Patient outcomes included hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood pressures. Prescores and postscores were compared using paired t tests for continuous measures and McNemar's test for binary measures. Results A total of 154 residents were eligible for the curriculum. All residents participated in the curriculum, though not all residents completed the evaluation. Completion rates for paired pre-post knowledge and confidence surveys were 38% and 37%, respectively. Nearly 80% (69 of 87) of residents indicated that the curriculum was above average or outstanding. Our evaluation revealed very small immediate improvements in knowledge and confidence. No significant improvement in patients' HbA1cs or blood pressures occurred after the curriculum. Conclusions Explicit training to work in a PCMH was feasible and resulted in high levels of resident satisfaction and immediate small improvements in knowledge and confidence.