Chronic conditions don’t end when patients leave the doctor’s office. That’s why University Medical Center expanded efforts in 2026 to better support patients with chronic illnesses between appointments.
The expansion came in the form of Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM), a Medicare initiative that provides for ongoing care outside of traditional office visits. Instead of focusing only on in-person appointments, APCM allows care teams to stay engaged with patients on a regular basis through regular check-ins, coordination and follow-up.
“It really focuses on keeping patients healthier and better connected to the care and resources they need,” said Dr. Tom Weida, UMC’s chief medical officer.
UMC implemented APCM at its clinics in Tuscaloosa and Northport. The program allows patient care teams at UMC to provide a range of health services between visits, including developing personalized care plans, reviewing medications and helping coordinate care with specialists or after a hospital stay. It’s a more connected and hands-on approach between appointments designed to make care more consistent and easier for patients to manage.
“It’s like having your mom manage your care,” Weida said. “We’re doing monthly checks, making sure we have an accurate medication list, answering questions and making sure we get reports back from the hospital and specialists.”
Care managers also help patients work through everyday challenges that can affect their health, such as difficulty accessing health care services, trouble managing medications or transportation issues. APCM also provides patients additional ways to stay in touch with their care team through secure messaging and other forms of digital communication.