IT needed to support medical home functions

Development and implementation of a comprehensive electronic infrastructure are needed to support pediatric information-management functions of the medical home, according to a new policy statement from the AAP.

For pediatric practice, a lifelong electronic health record is the core of such systems and should be portable, secure, and allow for information sharing among health care providers and patients.

The statement calls the medical home model the central organizing principle for children's health care.

To maximize the efficiency and safety of health care, information systems must connect and facilitate communication among all partners within the health care network.

To support quality improvement, information systems must facilitate translation of evidence into practice; delivery of evidence-based care; and collection and reporting of quality indicators based on the clinical data.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Council on Clinical Information Technology. Policy statement-health information technology and the medical home. Pediatrics. 2011. Epub ahead of print.