Endocrine Insider
October 11, 2007

During a recent meeting of the American College of Physicians - Council of Subspecialty Societies (ACP-CSS) in Washington, D.C., the major topic was the patient-centered medical home (PCMH). The concept, developed by ACP, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), is intended to ensure continuity of care for patients by allowing patients to select a “medical home” where their care will be coordinated. Subspecialists meeting certain criteria could become a medical home if they so choose.

Carol Greenlee, MD, member of the Society’s Clinical Affairs Core Committee (CACC) and CSS representative, attended the meeting on behalf of The Endocrine Society. The Society is generally in support of the concept, but has concerns that it is an untested model at this point, and more work needs to be done before it can be determined if it presents any unintended consequences for the endocrinology community.

Dr. Greenlee and Pamela Hartzband, MD, another CACC member, have also represented the Society over the course of several months in a small group of subspecialties that is looking deeper at the PCMH concept and its effect on referrals and the patient mix seen by endocrinologists and other subspecialists.

A second area of discussion at the CSS meeting focused on ACP’s development of clinical guidelines. Since many of the guidelines that ACP develops encompass the expertise of various subspecialties, the College asked that societies recommend representatives with specific expertise to participate in the development of guidelines of interest to their society. The Endocrine Society has expressed its interest in having Society members join guideline development committees and will provide expert representatives to appropriate committees.