Commencement Letter
July 27, 2011
We appreciate your choosing Calvert Internal Medicine Group as your primary care clinicians. We understand the importance of such a decision and want you to know that we are committed to providing you with comprehensive quality health care. As part of this commitment, Calvert Internal Medicine is proactive in offering important opportunities to our patients that we believe will benefit them and best meet their health care needs.
We are pleased to inform you that you will be among the first patients to be offered the opportunity to participate in an advanced primary care medical program, the Maryland Multi-Payer Patient Centered Medical Home Program. Our practice was selected through a competitive process to participate. This program will allow us to provide you with greater access to care through expanded hours and new services as we implement this model of advanced primary care services. The State of Maryland, through the Maryland Health Care Commission, has launched this Program in partnership with Maryland’s primary care medical practices, consumer groups, health insurance carriers, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and many representatives from Maryland’s health care institutions. We believe that the Maryland Multi-Payer Patient Centered Medical Home Program will provide important resources and tools in order for us to better meet/address your medical needs at no additional cost to you. We are excited about this opportunity and would like for you to understand the benefits this new program will provide to you.
What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?
The Medical Home is an innovative, team-based approach to providing health care services. A partnership develops between the patient, his or her primary clinician, and a health care team. Together, following evidence-based guidelines for medical care, the team will coordinate to provide the best health care services possible for you.
What are the changes and additional benefits that I can anticipate?
Team Based Care:
- One of us will remain as your Primary Care clinician. (If you have not selected a primary care provider, we encourage you to do so to ensure the best continuity of your care) We will also have a team of nurses and support staff to work with you to meet all of your health care needs. New information systems tools, along with other resources, will assist us to provide personal medical care that is optimal for you.
Improved Health Access and Communication:
- For urgent care issues during working hours, many of which can be treated in our office, your Primary Care clinician (or another one of our team members) will see you on the very day that you have an urgent health care need. You will need to simply call the main office number 410-535-2005 during working hours to schedule a same-day appointment with us. You will then avoid having a prolonged and expensive visit to the Emergency Room or having your treatment postponed.
- If an urgent care issue arises outside of our normal clinical care hours, call our office telephone number and follow the instructions that you will be given to reach the on-call clinician. A clinician is on-call 7 days per week. Please continue to call 911 for all emergencies.
- Routine and follow-up care will be provided in a timely manner. Your Medical Home Team will be monitoring your medical needs and will proactively contact you to schedule follow-up appointments if they are not already arranged.
- Your Medical Home Team will help to coordinate your healthcare needs for any specialty visits that are required. We will act as your advisor and advocate in making sure that all testing, procedures, and specialist appointments are appropriate and coordinated in an efficient and high quality fashion. We ask that you inform us if you are seen by any other providers or visit the emergency room or hospital for any reason.
- Your Medical Home Team will also develop a personal care plan to help you obtain the best possible health outcomes, including steps you can take outside of your visits with us to improve your health. Working together, we can understand your potential health risks and address them before they become chronic problems.
How will I contact my Medical Home Team?
- You may contact your Medical Home Team directly to arrange an appointment or to discuss your health care needs by calling 410 535 2005 Monday – Thursday between the hours of 8am and 7 pm, Fridays between 8 am and 5 pm. In order to allow us to provide our best primary care services, please let our Medical Home Team know if you see any other health care provider. Also, please remind any health care provider that you may see to forward reports to us regarding your condition and treatment. This will allow us to best coordinate your clinical care.
- We will be implementing a web-based computer system that will allow you to learn more about a particular medical condition, electronically communicate with your healthcare team and receive electronic reminders about your personal conditions. We will be providing you with more information on this system in the near future.
How do I learn more about the Patient-Centered Medical Home?
- The following websites provide more detailed information about the Patient Centered Medical Home and its benefits to patients.
o http://mhcc.maryland.gov/pcmh/
o http://pcpcc.net/consumers-and-patients
What do I do next?
- If you are interested in participating in the program, all you need to do is continue to receive your care from our practice at this location. We have already confirmed with your health insurance carrier that you are eligible to participate.
- If you do NOT want to participate in the program, please complete the opt-out form in our office and return it to us within 30 days of receipt of this letter. If you choose not to participate, you are still welcome to be our patient and to receive care as you always have.
We are excited to be able to provide you with this opportunity and are confident that you will be pleased with the Patient Centered Medical Home approach. We look forward to partnering with you in this endeavor. If you have any questions about this new delivery system, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Your Calvert Internal Medicine Group Providers