1000HigbeeDr
SuiteD202
BethelPark,PA15102
(412)-833-6176
Updated:
The Patient-Centered Medical Home &
You: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Patients and
Families
WhatisaPatient-CenteredMedicalHome?
AMedicalHomeisallaboutyou.CaringaboutyouisthemostimportantjobofyourPatient
CenteredMedicalHome.Inthispersonalmodelofhealthcare,yourprimarycareproviderleadsa
teamofhealthcareprofessionalsthatcollectivelytakeresponsibilityforyourcare.Theymakesure
yougetthecareyouneedinwellnessandillnesstohealyourbody,mindandspirit.
Yourpersonalproviderandanextendedteamofhealthprofessionalsbuildarelationshipinwhich
theyknowyou,yourfamilysituation,yourmedicalhistoryandhealthissues.Inturn,youcometo
trustandrelyonthemforexpert,evidence-basedhealthcareanswersthataresuitedentirelyto
youortoyourfamily.
HowwillaMedicalHomeleadtobettercareforme?
TherearemanybenefitstobeinginaMedicalHome:
• Comprehensivecaremeansyourmedicalhomehelpsyouaddressanyhealthissueatany
givenstageofyourlife
• Coordinationofcareoccurswhenanycombinationofservicesyouandyourprovider
decideyouneedareconnectedandorderedinarationalway,includingtheuseofresources
inyourcommunity
• Continuouscareoccursovertimeandyoucanexpectcontinuityinaccurate,effectiveand
timelycommunicationfromanymemberofyourhealthcareteam.
• Accessiblecareallowsyoutoinitiatetheinteractionyouneedforanyhealthissuewitha
physicianorotherteammemberthroughyourdesiredmethod(officevisit,phonecall,or
electronically)andyoucanexpecteliminationofbarrierstotheaccessofcareand
instructionsonobtainingcareduringandafterhours.
• Proactivecareensuresyouandyourproviderwillbuildacareplantoaddressyourhealth
caregoalstokeepyouwell,plusbeavailableforyouwhenyougetsick.
• Evidencebasedcaremeansthatyourcareteamkeepsuptodatewiththelatestmedical
researchandclinicalpracticeguidelines,andwillworkwithyoutopersonalizeyourcareto
fityourpreferencesandyourgoals.
WhoismyMedicalHomeTeam?
Yourteammayincludeadoctor,nursepractitioner,licensedpracticenurse,medicalassistantor
healtheducator,aswellasotherhealthprofessionals.Theseprofessionalsworktogethertohelp
yougethealthy,stayhealthy,andgetthecareandservicesthatarerightforyou.Whenneeded,
yourpersonaldoctorarrangesforappropriatecarewithqualifiedspecialists.
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1000HigbeeDr
SuiteD202
BethelPark,PA15102
(412)-833-6176
Updated:
WhatdoesmyMedicalHomeTeamdoforme?
TheMedicalHometeamisyourteam.Theyprovideyouwiththecareyouneed,whenyouneedit
andcustomizeyourcaretomeetyourneedsandexpectations.Wehelpyousetappropriatehealth
goalsandworkwithyoutomeetthem.Wewillspendenoughtimewithyoutoensureyou
understandwhatyouneedtodotosuccessfullymeetyourgoalsandansweranyquestionsyou
mighthave.Wehelpyouunderstandallyouroptionsforcaresoyoucandecidewhatcareisbest
foryou.Andwewillalwaystreatyouwiththerespectyoudeserveasafullpartnerinyour
healthcare.
WhattypeofservicesdoesmyMedicalHomeprovideforme?
Weprovidecomprehensive,compassionateandcontinuouscareforpeopleofallages.
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Samedayappointments
Preventivecareandphysicals(healthriskassessments,sportsandschoolphysicals)
Chronicdiseasemanagement(suchasdiabetes,heartdisease,arthritis,asthmaandmore)
Acutecareforillnessandinjuries
Wellchildvisits,screeningandvaccinations
Wellwomanexams
Groupvisitsandclassestohelpyouleadahealthylifestyle
24x7phoneaccesstoyourcareteam
Onlineelectronicaccesstoyourmedicalrecords
Referralstovettedspecialistsandmentalhealthproviders
Managementofmulti-specialtycareplansincludingmentalhealth
WillmyMedicalHomehelpmetakecareofmyself? ThecareyoureceiveinaMedicalHomegoesbeyondtheofficevisitwithyourpersonalclinician.
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Wewanttomakesureyoudevelopaclearideaofhowtocareforyourself.
Wewanttohelpyousetgoalsforyourcareandhelpyoumeetyourgoalsonestepatatime
Wewanttoencourageyoutofullyparticipateinrecommendedpreventivescreeningsand
services
Wewillrecommendtoolsandeducationmaterialsyoucanusetoimproveyourcondition
andmanageyourhealth
Wewillgiveyouinformationaboutclasses,supportgroups,orothertypesofservicesto
helpyoulearnmoreaboutyourconditionandstayhealthy
Wewillprovideyouwithinformationaboutresourcesinyourcommunitytohelpyou
manageyourhealthandyourwellbeing
Wewillprovideyouwithresourcesand,ifneeded,appropriatereferralstobehavioral
healthspecialiststohelpyoumakeandsustainhealthychangestolifestyleortoaddress
mentalhealthconditionsforyouandotherfamilymembers
HowcanmyMedicalHomehelpifIneedtoseespecialistsorgotoahospital? Page2of5
Updated:
1000HigbeeDr
SuiteD202
BethelPark,PA15102
(412)-833-6176
Yourmedicalhometeamwillcoordinateyourcarewithallyourotherhealthcareproviders.They
willrecommendqualityspecialistsforyouandyourfamilyandwillworkwithyourspecialistand
thehospitaltocontinuouslyplanandmanageyourcare.
Withyourconsent,yourmedicalhometeamwillinformspecialistsandhospitalsaboutyour
medicalconditions,yourpreferencesandyourgoalsandwillfollowuptoobtaininformationafter
yourspecialtyvisitoryourhospitalstay.Wewillalsofollowupwithyouandyourfamilytomake
sureyourgetthecareyouneedandthatyouunderstandyourplanofcare.
CanmyMedicalHomehelpmewhenIhaveanemergency? Ifyouhaveamedicalemergency,pleasedial9-1-1.
Forotherclinicalproblemsormedicaladvice,callyourMedicalHomefirst.Dependingonthe
natureoftheproblem,wemaybeabletosaveyouanexpensiveandinconvenienttriptothe
emergencyroomforproblemsbestaddressedbyyourpersonalprimarycareprovider.Youcan
reachaMedicalHometeammemberviatelephone24x7,andsamedayappointmentsareavailable.
Ifyoudogototheemergencyroom,pleasemakesureyouletthestaffknowwhoyourprimarycare
providerisandaskthattheycontactyourMedicalHomeassoonaspossiblesowecanhelpthem
takebettercareofyouandyourfamily.
WhatcanIdotohelpmyMedicalHometeamtakebettercareofme?
Youareencouragedtoactivelyparticipateinyourcare.
• Understandthatyouareafullpartnerinyourownhealthcare
• Learnaboutyourconditionandwhatyoucandotostayashealthyaspossible
• Asbestyoucan,followthecareplanthatyouandyourmedicalteamhaveagreedis
importantforyourhealth,includingtakingyourmedicationsasprescribed.
• Keepscheduledappointmentsorcalltorescheduleorcancelasearlyaspossible
• Contactusafterhoursonlyifyourissuecannotwaituntilthenextworkday.
• IFpossible,contactusbeforegoingtotheemergencyroomsosomeonewhoknowsyour
medicalhistorycancareforyou.
• Contacttheofficewithin48hoursofdischargefromhospitals,emergencyroomsorurgent
carecenterslikeMedExpressorQuickCare.
DoyourbesttocommunicatewithyourMedicalHometeam
• Tellusallaboutyourhealth,yourmedicalhistoryandthehealthhistoryofyourfamily
• Bringalistofquestionstoeachappointment.Also,bringalistofanymedicines,vitamins,or
remediesyouuse.
• Ifyoudon’tunderstandsomethingyourdoctororothermemberofyourmedicalhome
teamsays,askthemtoexplainitinadifferentway
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Updated:
1000HigbeeDr
SuiteD202
BethelPark,PA15102
(412)-833-6176
• Ifyougetcarefromotherhealthprofessionals,alwaystellyourmedicalhometeamsothey
canhelpcoordinateforthebestcarepossible
• Talkopenlywithyourcareteamaboutyourexperienceingettingcarefromthemedical
homesotheycankeepmakingyourcarebetter.
HowdoIaccessmyMedicalHome?
Weofferconvenientsame-dayandnext-dayappointments,after-hoursphoneaccessandextended
hours—earlymorningsandevenings.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00AM-8:00PM
7:00AM-8:00PM
8:00AM-8:00PM
8:00AM-8:00PM
7:00AM-5:00PM
Tomakeanappointment,call(412)833-6176orlogintothePatientPortalatwww.shfm.comand
clickthebluePortallinktoberedirectedtotheloginscreen.
Forclinicaladviceandallothermatters,pleasecall(412)833-6176.Werespondinatimelymanner
toyourphonecallsorelectronicmessagessentthroughthePatientPortal.
Forallurgentmatters,pleasecontactusbyphone.Forallnon-urgentmatters,generalinformation
andtomakeanappointment,pleasecallusduringnormalbusinesshours.
Regularbusinesstelephonehoursare9:00am-4:00pm.Between8:00amand9:00am,patients
phoningtheofficewillbegiventheoptiontoleaveamessageforareturncallfromtheofficestaff.
Between4:00pmand8:00pm,Monday-Thursday,patientswillbegiventheoptiontoleavea
messageforareturncallfromtheofficestaff.Between4:00pmand5:00pmonFridays,patients
willbegiventheoptiontoleaveamessageforareturncallfromtheofficestaff.After8:00pm
Monday–Thursday,andafter5:00pmonFridayswhenphoningtheoffice,patientswillbegiven
theoptiontospeaktothephysicianoncall.Pleaselistencarefullytothemenuoptionswhen
seekingmedicaladvicefromaphysicianafterhours.
HowdoItransfermyrecordstomyMedicalHome?
Wewillneedyourconsenttoobtainyourmedicalrecordsfromyourpreviousprimarycare
provider,ahospitalorfromspecialistsyouhaveseeninthepast.RecordsReleaseConsentforms
areavailableinalltheoffices.Pleasetrytogiveusasmuchinformationaboutyourprevious
PCP/physician/orhospitalincludingcontactinfosowecanensuretherequestisdelivered
promptlyandcorrectly.Thereisnotafeeassociatedwithrecordtransfersfromonephysicianto
anotherbutphysicianpracticesmaychargethepatientforcopyingmedicalrecordsanddelivering
themtothepatient.Thefeesaredeterminedbythenumberofpagesthatarecopied.Feesareset
everyyearbythePennsylvaniaDepartmentofHealth.
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Updated:
1000HigbeeDr
SuiteD202
BethelPark,PA15102
(412)-833-6176
Youcancompletetheformatthefrontdeskofanyoftheofficesduringbusinesshours.Youcan
alsocontactthepreviousPCP/physician/orhospitalpriortoyourfirstappointmentwithSHFMand
askaboutthepreviouspracticeorhospital’spolicyfortransferringmedicalrecords.Most
providershaveaformtofilloutortheymayaskyoutorequestyourrecordsinwritingifitisnot
feasibletofillouttherequestforminperson.QuestionsregardingthespecificsofSouthHills
FamilyMedicine’stransferofrecordspolicyshouldbedirectedtoNancyTinthePetersTownship
location.
CanIbeinaMedicalHomeifIdon’thavehealthinsurance? Weacceptmanyinsuranceplansandinsomecasescashpatients.Callustodiscussyourparticular
situation.Onceyoubecomeapatientinourpractice,weprovideyouwiththesameaccessandcare
regardlessofyourhealthinsurancestatus.
BeginningJanuary1st,2014mostpeoplewillberequiredbylawtohavehealthinsurance.
Dependingonyourfinancialsituation,youmaybeeligibleforgovernmentsubsidiestobuyprivate
healthinsuranceonthemarketplace,oryoumaybeeligibletoenrollinMedicaid/Medical
Assistanceprograms.
FormoreinformationandusefultoolstocheckyoureligibilityvisitHealthcare.govoraskoneof
yourcareteammembersforassistance.
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