How the Madigan Healthcare System delivers medical care to the dependents of active duty Servicemembers is changing.

"We've moved the military clinic closer to where military families live," Frank Bannister, group practice manager of the Madigan-Puyallup Medical Home, said as he walked through the clean and well-lit facility. "When I am at work here, I am at home."

The 12,000 square foot Puyallup clinic opened in April.  It is located at 10507 156th Street East, Suite 112. A future clinic is planned to open later this year in Olympia.

Patients must volunteer to seek care at the off-site clinic, and Madigan - which is committed to this medical home change - is recruiting them to clear some capacity at the main hospital.

The clinic's goal is to serve approximately 8,000 patients annually.  

The philosophy behind the clinic is to provide team-oriented health care combined with ease of getting an appointment, seeing the same health care team during each visit, and promoting wellness.

The facility has 35 civilian health care professionals ranging from doctors, physician's assistants and nurses to lab technicians, a pharmacist and clinical psychologist on hand to serve family members.

"This is a wonderful place to receive primary care," Dr. Beverly Morrow, pharmacist, explained.  "This is a community based medical home where we utilize a team concept."

Community based medical homes are Army-run primary care clinics located off-post in communities where Army families live.

Put another way, the Madigan Healthcare System's patient-centered medical home is both old fashioned and revolutionary. Each patient partners with a team of health care providers to develop a comprehensive, individualized health care plan.

That health care team works with the patient to address issues as they arise, and also delivers prevention screenings and services, manages chronic conditions and promotes a spirit of health, wellness and trust.

"Family members see the same health care providers every time they come in; a sense of trust is developed," Bannister said.

To make good on this concept, the health care team at the Puyallup clinic begins every day with a "huddle." At this time, team members review patients' health care plans prior to meeting them.  During any given day, registered nurses Alice Anderson and Stacey Solomonson provide direction to both patients and providers.

"We can provide home care instructions over the telephone to scheduling a visit," Anderson explained."If the patient comes in for care, we make sure the patient sees the right provider," Solomonson added.

If a patient receives care outside of the community based medical home - in the emergency room, hospital or a sub-specialist's office - the patient's care team will ensure that care is coordinated and integrated into the comprehensive care plan.