Resident Engagement in the Patient-Centered Medical Home.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study's objectives were to assess resident understanding and engagement with the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model and to assess the impact of participation in a PCMH transformation collaborative on residents' experiences and perceptions related to their training environment.

METHODS

Residents from practices participating in the largest state-wide PCMH learning collaborative were asked to complete surveys describing their experiences with the collaborative and the PCMH transformation process. Residents from four representative participating residencies were recruited to participate in focus groups designed to provide qualitative data to augment our understanding of the quantitative survey results.

RESULTS

We had a reasonable average response rate (39%) with a total of 100 completed resident surveys. Quantitative data illustrated high levels of residents' endorsement of PCMH awareness, engagement, and PCMH-related skills acquisition. The analyses suggested higher levels of PCMH engagement, understanding, and sense of adequacy of preparation among residents who attended learning collaborative sessions compared to those who did not. While qualitative data validated many of the quantitative findings, they also illustrated a somewhat detached and peripheral description of resident experiences with the transformation process.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented data describe the complexities of preparing the next generation of providers for practice. Our mixed-methods study illustrated the strengths of participating in the learning collaborative but also areas of focus necessary for improving the experience and educational benefits of PCMH-related curricula involving residents.