Internal Medicine Diagnostics Inc. (IMD) sits just inside the Sharp County line, close to neighboring Fulton County in North Central Arkansas. This solo-physician operation serves as the patient-centered medical home for about 1,000 local residents, including many retirees. IMD is a prime example of how utilizing information technology can improve patient care despite demographic and socioeconomic challenges. With three licensed practical nurses and three non-clinical administrative staff, the clinic is situated in a medical complex that recently opened a new 24-hour emergency department. IMD is one of 69 Arkansas practices originally selected to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center’s Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative, which is a joint federal, state, and private payer effort in Arkansas to develop patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). The charge to join the initiative and transform the practice into a PCMH was led by the practice physician, Dr. Surinder Sra, and the practice manager, Nirmal Sidhu.
This study is part of a series of case studies spotlighting practice transformation to the PCMH model, emphasizing how individual practices have approached innovation and implementation.
