APRNs Included in Joint Commission Definition of Primary Care Clinician

The Approved Standards & Elements of Performances for The Joint Commission Primary Care Medical Home Option – Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program is now public.  The ACNP congratulates the Joint Commission on this publication, standards effective July 1.  ACNP is pleased to see consistent use of the term “primary care clinician” throughout the 18-page document. This term and its provider neutral definition mirrors an important core value of the the ACNP: "Interdisciplinary non-hierarchial team care is the highest quality of care".

Joint Commission definition of primary care clinician:

 “Primary care clinicians have the educational background and broad-based knowledge and experience necessary to handle most medical and other health care needs of the patients who have selected them, including resolving conflicting recommendations for care. The primary care clinician works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team and in partnership with the patient to address the patient’s primary health care needs. The primary care clinician is selected by the patient and serves as the primary point of contact for the patient and family. A primary care clinician operating within the primary care home is a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant.”

This definition facilitates access to primary care services provided by APRNs, and allows nurse managed health centers to be eligible to become primary care medical homes.  The document (title "Pre-Publication Primary Care Medical Home Pre-Publication Standards") can be accessed at:
http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/prepublication_standards.aspx