N.C. Public Health, Health and Human Services
DHHS DPH WCH Families Medical Home for Children Fact Sheet

WCH: Medical Home for Children Fact Sheet

What is a Medical Home?

A Medical Home is a doctor’s office, clinic or health department where the staff knows you, your child and your child’s health history. It is the one place you take your child for their health care for:

  • checkups
  • sick visits
  • accidents
  • special health needs
  • shots

Medical Home is a team approach to providing health care. In a primary health care setting that is family-centered and compassionate, a partnership develops between the family and the doctor.

Every child needs a medical home. Children with special health care needs especially need one. They may have many professionals involved in their physical and emotional well-being. Coordinated care ensures communication and planning among everyone involved in your child’s care, including family, primary health care practitioners, specialists, community programs and insurance plans.

A Medical Home offers the very best care for your child. Because the staff knows your child, they can:

  • Catch little problems before they become big problems
  • Give you advice and help in caring for your child
  • Make sure your child gets checkups, screenings, and shots to stay well
  • Help you find the right specialists and equipment for your child
  • Tell you about helpful community programs

Choosing a Quality Medical Home

Choosing a quality medical home is important! You want to take your child to someone you trust, someone who respects you as  a full partner in your child’s care. Here are some questions you may want to ask. You may think of others.
Some questions to ask:http://www.nchealthystart.org/ public/medicalhome/

  1. Do you accept my child’s health insurance?
  2. If I cannot pay what I owe, can I set up a payment plan?
  3. What are your regular office hours? What if my child needs care at night, on weekends or holidays? Do you have an advice line I can call?
  4. If I have many concerns, may I schedule a longer appointment?
  5. Will you regularly check my child’s developmental progress?
  6. How can we work together in planning my child’s care?
  7. Will you tell me about and help me contact health and community resources?
  8. How familiar are you with my child’s special health care needs?
  9. I like talking with other families who have had similar experiences. How do you use families as resources to your practice?

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Last Modified: June 18, 2020