Infrastructure

APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE

Physical space, staffing, electronic records and other digital supports, equipment, and virtual networks facilitate the delivery of timely, accessible, and comprehensive care.

RECOMMENDATION #1

All PMHs use EMRs in their practices and are able to access supports to maintain their EMR systems.

RECOMMENDATION #2

EMR products intended for use in PMHs are identified and approved by a centralized process that includes family physicians and other health care professionals. Practices are able to select an EMR product from a list of regionally approved vendors.

RECOMMENDATION #3

EMRs approved for PMHs will include appropriate standards for managing patient care in a primary care setting; e-prescribing capacity; clinical decision support programs; e-referral and consultation tools; e-scheduling tools that support advanced access; and systems that support data analytics, teaching, research, evaluation, and CQI.

RECOMMENDATION #4

Electronic records used in a PMH are interconnected, user-friendly, and interoperable.

RECOMMENDATION #5

Co-located PMH practices are in physical spaces that are accessible and set up to support collaboration and interaction between team members.

RECOMMENDATION #6

A PMH has the appropriate staff to provide timely access (e.g., having physician assistants and/or registered nurses to meet PMH goals).

RECOMMENDATION #7

A PMH has technology to enable alternative forms of care, such as virtual care/telecare.

RECOMMENDATION #8

Sufficient system funding and resources are provided to ensure that teaching faculty and facility requirements will be met by every PMH teaching site.