Continuity in Health Care Is Important

By Sujatha Ramamurthy MD –

Do you remember the days when doctors took time to actually get to know you and build a relationship with you? Remember when doctors not only took care of you in their office, but would also visit with you and oversee your care while in the hospital? You trusted them to explain what was going on with your condition and to help your family understand your health care plan by answering every question that was asked. Over the years medical treatment has surely changed, that personal relationship and trust has been challenged, as it has become diluted and replaced by multiple and sometimes disconnected medical professionals.

Insurance companies and health plans are dictating the way that medical professionals take care of patients more and more, leaving a frustrated medical community who is only trying to serve their patients’ needs to the best of their abilities.

Unfortunately, our rapidly aging population of elders is suffering the most from this shift in care, both medically and financially. As medicine changes into a business, it is increasingly more difficult for physicians, and other healthcare affiliates to be able to address patients’ needs on a regular basis and provide a contingent care to the issues that arise. For many patients it is becoming increasingly difficult to leave their homes for regular office visits or for physicians to accommodate them in their offices or follow them during their hospitalizations. Many doctors now have to use a hospitalist-based system to admit their patients and feel a disconnection from their patients, as their patients are discharged to their homes or facilities. Often patients are frustrated as well with being hospitalized or in a skilled nursing facility where their medical management has been changed and they are faced with new medications, home healthcare plans, and new diagnoses. Physicians are also frustrated with these changes as it becomes more cumbersome to discover and obtain the overall insight to the patient as they have lost their continuity of care and the invaluable physician-patient relationship that they were once able to build.

With multiple caregivers, offices and procedures, it can sometimes be overwhelming to ensure that everyone is on the same page and stays up to date on your condition and treatment. When multiple doctors are involved, continuity of care is vital.

Doctors2you is like a string that links scattered beads to form a necklace around a disconnected health care system.

Doctors2you is a short-term transitional medical house call service that provides medical care in the home for up to 30 days for patients that have been recently discharged from the hospital, SNF or rehab. Doctors2 you will provide medical treatment to bridge the disconnect between the healthcare system and patients by having a house-call doctor visit the home following hospitalization or rehab stay. This unique service provided by the house-call doctor gives the patient peace of mind by allowing them to form a one-on-one connection with a doctor who will help them transition from being in the hospital to returning home. This ensures that there is no lapse in care and enable complete and quick recovery.

This service offers preventative care as well as transitional care for patients. What many patients don’t realize is that most healthcare plans, including Medicare, cover services provided by house-call doctors.

House-call Doctor Visits
Patients are visited upon discharge and on an as needed basis thereafter to monitor vital signs, medication evaluation, routine blood work and evaluation for other homecare needs. Home visits allow for the time to evaluate and educate each patient in their surroundings and provide a much-needed personalized care. During this transitional time (up to 30 days) we will serve as a bridge between the patient and their doctors, by taking the time to explain the conditions and treatment in a way that enhances patient compliance and better health choices. It is too often that minor problems go untreated or overlooked, resulting in emergency room visits because the patient was afraid to leave their home, couldn’t get transportation, or were not able to schedule a follow up with their primary care physician.

“Oftentimes, we in the medical community forget how difficult it may be for our patients to reach us in our offices. They may have had surgery and are unable to drive, due to pain or medications there taking, or simply do not have anyone to bring them to their appointments. They may have had their medications changed while in the hospital or facility, and are unclear what to do with the medications they already have at home. They may be set up with a homecare agency or equipment that doesn’t arrive. Being a house-call physician I see the things that need to be addressed and having the ability to visit the patient in their home gives me volumes of information that can’t be seen at an office visit or hospitalization.”

Doctors2you is not a replacement for your primary care physician in fact it is working in conjunction with your primary and specialists to reestablish a loss of connection during the time you were not able to be cared for by them directly. We provide a concierge type service but do not charge additional fees, we bill your insurance company just like any other doctors office. To retain our services all you need to do is ask. You may call our office directly, or notify a hospital representative, or the doctor that is currently taking care of you that you would like our service in your home. We will do the rest to help bring everyone together for your health and your total wellness.

With everyone in a rush these days and doctors being forced to treat an increasing number of patients, seeking the aid from a house-call doctor to help ensure that nothing gets missed during your recovery and that you always receive the best care from all doctors involved in your treatment.

Doctors2you provides other services like regularly scheduled house-call visits to assisted-living facilities or homebound patients. We also have a program for snowbirds that do not have a doctor locally, to bridge that temporary gap between your doctors up north and your family to allow for continuity of care and ensure that you have goodmedical attention when you are far away from home. We can help you find the specialist you need and refer you to a local physician if you need further care.

Doctors2you provides other services like regularly scheduled house-call visits to assisted-living facilities or homebound patients. We also have a program for snowbirds that do not have a doctor locally, to bridge that temporary gap between your doctors up north and your family to allow for continuity of care and ensure that you have good medical attention when you are far away from home. We can help you find the specialist you need and refer you to a local physician if you need further care.

Navigating the health care system can be overwhelming for many patients, especially those with multiple health concerns. Let Doctors2you help coordinate your care, whether you have surgery scheduled, were just released from the hospital or, or are staying in Florida for the winter. You can rest assured that the friendly and experienced doctors will ensure that no part of your health care plan falls through the cracks. Trust Doctors2you to be your voice in what can easily become a tangled web of paperwork, medical terms and office visits.

Call today to find out how we can help you!
DOCTORS2YOU
239-332-0407