Innovation in patient-centered care: Lessons from a qualitative study of innovative health care organizations in Washington

There are several different approaches to promoting patient-centered care: creating medical homes, helping patients to become partners in treatment decisions, and instituting payment reforms that enable doctors to be reimbursed for time spent counseling patients about healthy behaviors, for e-mail consultations, and for coordinating care with other providers. Little is known, however, about how health care organizations choose their approach and set goals. In this Commonwealth Fund–supported study, researchers interviewed health plan leaders and providers in Washington State, a leader in patient-centered innovation.