WASHINGTON – Information technology is at the heart of a new demonstration project the American Academy of Family Physicians launched Monday to test a new model for patient care in 36 U.S. medical practices.

The $8 million effort, called TransforMED, is a two-year demonstration project that proposes to change the way primary care is delivered through several IT-related steps such as electronic health records, online appointment booking, online information, clinical practice guideline software and electronic visits. The project also encourages non-IT initiatives such as alternative reimbursement models, group visits and redesigned offices. TransforMED is an initiative the AAFP began in 2005 to provide consultation and support to physicians who want to change their practices into a “relationship-centered personal medical home.”

TransforMED is designed to make family medicine “patient centered, quality focused and cost-effective,” Douglas Henley, MD, executive vice president of the AAFP told an audience in Washington, D.C., during the project’s launch on Monday. The project was designed based on a model proposed two years ago in AAFP’s Future of Family Medicine Project report.

The 36 practices that will participate include offices of various sizes in several geographically diverse areas of the nation. The practices will be divided into two groups. One group will receive support from practice redesign experts and will share best practice information with other practices. The other group will only be provided access to practice improvement tools and services without other assistance. A final report on the outcome is expected in 2009.

All practices participating in the project will be required to move toward electronic health records, but will have to spend their own money to do so, according to Terry McGeeney, president and chief executive officer of TransforMED. McGeeney said simply giving physician practices money to implement EHRs would defeat the purpose of testing a real-world scenario of how practices can implement technology in a cost-effective manner.

Next steps

Those involved with the project said the AAFP sought funding for the project for the last two years, but received no outside help to implement it. The AAFP has committed an initial $8 million to the project. TransforMED will seek additional funding to expand the project. Employers such as IBM and Xerox have committed resources, staff or technology to the project.

Officials with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said they would evaluate the project’s outcomes and see what aspects could be incorporated into the Medicare program.