Perceptions of the medical home by parents of children with chronic illnesses.

Objectives: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) strives to improve the quality of care in the primary care setting. Recently, certification programs for patient-centered coordinated care have expanded to subspecialty care. Children with chronic conditions are particularly in need of patient-centered and coordinated care.

Enhanced Access and Parents' Preferred Contact for a Child's Chronic Condition.

Objectives: To assess whether the perception of enhanced access by parents in their child's primary care and main specialty practices is associated with preference for contacting either practice when problems arise with a child's chronic condition.

Study Design: In this cross-sectional survey study of parents whose children use both primary and specialty practices, we assessed perceptions of 3 components of enhanced access: (1) appointment availability when needed, (2) electronic communication with practices, and (3) other staff that help manage a child's health care needs. Parents also indicated which practice they would contact for an exacerbation of the main chronic condition for which the child receives specialty care.