Longevity, Endurance, Acceptance, Faith (LEAF)
The UMC LEAF Clinic serves as the medical home for patients with HIV. The clinic’s multilayered organization has a number of benefits for the patient. For instance, each patient has a designated healthcare team, which maintains a long-term healing relationship and enhances communication with the patient. The clinic also offers scheduling flexibility and a central location for healthcare. LEAF staff includes two nurse practitioners, a case manager, an adherence nurse, social workers, RNs, LPNs, and administrative coordinators. This highly integrated team provides substantial support and quality healthcare for the clinic’s 700 patients.
Patient education is a significant part of the medical home. Patients learn about the disease process and medication so that they can actively participate in their own care and strive to meet clinical goals. Areas of education include disease management, self-empowerment, behavior adjustment, improved health and positive outcomes. All of these lead to patient satisfaction with the delivery of healthcare in the medical-home model.
A key feature of the medical home is care coordination. When the patient needs specialty healthcare, the patient’s team coordinates this care, with referral tracking, appointments and health maintenance. Working closely to develop a comprehensive plan of care for the patient, the team monitors progress, tracks referrals and schedules timely appointments. It addresses health-maintenance needs and assists the patient in reaching personal goals.
As part of its orientation to the patient as a whole person, the medical-home model of patient-centered care recognizes the importance of active communication between caregivers and patients. Patient and staff satisfaction is directly related to good communication. Online assignments on positive and effective communication bolster the skills of medical-home staff, with a focus on conveying compassionate care.
As a physician-directed practice with a personal physician for each patient, the LEAF Clinic provides to patients ready access to healthcare. The LEAF medical-home concept of care ensures that the patient receives safe, quality healthcare in a timely and effective manner.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance gives medical-home recognition status to medical practices that provide high-quality healthcare according to nationally accepted, evidence-based guidelines. The HIV LEAF Clinic is applying to the NCQA for this recognition status.
