A tale of two Medical Homes

Photo By Jason Bortz | A Medical Home Port team patient performs an audiogram test at Naval Branch Health Clinic Gulfport. The NBHC Medical Home has been active since 2010 and provides beneficiaries with acute care.  

GULFPORT, MS, UNITED STATES

04.02.2015

Story by Jason Bortz 

NMRTC Pensacola

GULFPORT, Miss. - Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport is fortunate to not only have one, but two Medical Homes to provide care to TRICARE Prime beneficiaries.

The Fleet Center Medical Home (FCMH) cares for active duty personnel assigned to one of the three Seabee battalions, and the Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Medical Home cares for the remaining active duty personnel assigned to the base, their families and retirees enrolled to the clinic.

Both Medical Homes are unique in the population they serve, but both offer the benefits of patient-centered care with a Medical Home Port team.

Medical Home Port teams provide beneficiaries with a team of health care professionals committed to their care. Care delivered in Medical Home Port teams includes readiness, prevention, wellness, behavioral health and disease management. The Medical Home Port concept has improved access to care for beneficiaries, quality of care, patient satisfaction and provider continuity.

“Beneficiaries enrolled to a Medical Home Port team can expect same-day access and appointments with their assigned provider,” Cmdr. Brennan Autry, officer in charge, NBHC Gulfport. “In the event the provider is not available, beneficiaries have the option to see another member of their team. When patients consistently see their assigned provider or a member of their team, the frequency of visits usually decrease, patient satisfaction increases and the quality of care improves because they are seeing someone that knows their medical history.”

The FCMH at NCBC Gulfport is one of three FCMHs currently being implemented by the Navy. The other two are at Naval Air Stations North Island and Whidbey Island. The FCMHs were modeled after the Marine Corps Medical Homes, which benefit Marines and Sailors that frequently deploy.

“The active duty medical personnel enrolled to FCMH are with the battalions assigned to the FCMH,” said Autry. “When the Sailors deploy, their medical assets deploy with them. They get to know each other during training and when stateside, which builds trust and familiarity between the medical officers, corpsmen and their patients.”

The FCMH at NCBC Gulfport was recently awarded level III recognition, the highest level possible, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. It is the first FCMH to earn that recognition. To earn Level III recognition, Medical Homes must meet a list of set standards established by the NCQA. Those standards include access to care, communications between patient and provider, patient self-management and support, care management and referral tracking.

“Earning Level III recognition means the FCMH now has the ability to succeed and provide the quality of care that is expected by Navy Medicine and beneficiaries,” said Autry.

One standard for Level III recognition is advanced electronic communication. Beneficiaries enrolled to the FCMH can send secure messages to their provider or team by using RelayHealth. With RelayHealth, beneficiaries can ask non-emergency questions, request lab results, ask for a referral or schedule future appoints. To enroll in RelayHealth, visit www.RelayHealth.com or ask the FCMH.

Unlike sick calls in the past, care at the FCMH is available by appointment Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Service members assigned to the FCMH can make an appointment by calling [phone] or online at www.TRICAREOnline.com.

The NBHC Medical Home has been active since 2010 and provides beneficiaries with acute care Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Appointments for Medical Home Port Team Honor can be made by calling [phone] or online at www.TRICAREonline.com. Beneficiaries enrolled with Honor can also contact their team with RelayHealth, just like the FCMH.

“Since we opened the Medical Home, our access to care has greatly improved,” said Reneil Milewski, a registered nurse and medical home clinic manager for NBHC Gulport. “The continuity of care has also improved and our patients get to know their providers better, which results in better care.”

The FCMH and NBHC Medical Home share many of same services such as radiology, pharmacy, immunizations, laboratory and dental. Another service both Medical Homes share is an integrated behavior health coordinator (IBHC). The IBHC works with the Medical Home Port teams to provide a care plan that will help beneficiaries cope with emotional issues such as weight loss, sleep disorders, tobacco sensation and chronic pain. The IBHC can also help service members and their families with the emotional struggles of deployments.

“The IBHC is a great asset for everyone enrolled to either the FCMH or the [NBHC] Medical Home,” said Autry. “In many cases, physical issues also create emotional issues, and the IBHC works hand-in-hand with the patient and their provider to develop a comprehensive health care plan.”

With improved access to care that include same day appointments, high standards for quality care and a team of health care providers committed to care, beneficiaries enrolled to either the FCMH or the NBHC Medical Home can expect outstanding health care for themselves and their family.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2015
• Date Posted: 04.02.2015 15:00
• Story ID: 158974
• Location: GULFPORT, MS, US