Tuesday, January 17, 2012
'Medical homes' keep you healthy
It might sound odd at first, but hospitals are actually working to keep patients out of the hospital.
Gone are the days when hospitals only took care of you when you are sick. To improve the community health, prevention is the best medicine.
At a time when many people don’t have medical insurance and only seek care when they absolutely have to, many people are seeking their care in hospital emergency departments. This is not healthy, and very costly.
That’s why the concept of “medical homes” is so important.
Think of it as “one-stop shopping” for your healthcare needs. In a patient-centered medical home, your care is coordinated through a real partnership with your doctor — your “personal physician.” Because the doctor knows you and your medical history, you can trust him or her to be responsible for all your healthcare needs. This includes arranging care and sharing health information with other qualified providers — specialists, hospitals, home health agencies, rehab specialists, nursing homes, or hospice.
In the medical home model, your care can be more effective, more efficient — and therefore safer. We have all had experiences where a test needed to be re-done, or a doctor didn’t know the results. Technology — backed by caring personal physicians — can create smoother transitions between the hospital, physicians and specialists. This is naturally linked to better overall health, disease prevention and greater patient satisfaction.
You can learn more about medical homes at our next Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness & Exercise program on Jan. 19 at 6:30-8 p.m. in the Plainfield Recreation Center. To register, call 860-889-8331, ext. 6381.
When people wait to seek healthcare until it is an emergency because they are without insurance or don’t want to pay a deductible, many times it is too late and their illness has progressed to the point where it is serious and possibly untreatable. Having a medical home can help patients lead healthier lifestyles, and prevent more serious illnesses.
Some of the most important healthcare now occurs before you ever get sick. Having a medical home provides a foundation for this.
Gone are the days when hospitals only took care of you when you are sick. To improve the community health, prevention is the best medicine.
At a time when many people don’t have medical insurance and only seek care when they absolutely have to, many people are seeking their care in hospital emergency departments. This is not healthy, and very costly.
That’s why the concept of “medical homes” is so important.
Think of it as “one-stop shopping” for your healthcare needs. In a patient-centered medical home, your care is coordinated through a real partnership with your doctor — your “personal physician.” Because the doctor knows you and your medical history, you can trust him or her to be responsible for all your healthcare needs. This includes arranging care and sharing health information with other qualified providers — specialists, hospitals, home health agencies, rehab specialists, nursing homes, or hospice.
In the medical home model, your care can be more effective, more efficient — and therefore safer. We have all had experiences where a test needed to be re-done, or a doctor didn’t know the results. Technology — backed by caring personal physicians — can create smoother transitions between the hospital, physicians and specialists. This is naturally linked to better overall health, disease prevention and greater patient satisfaction.
You can learn more about medical homes at our next Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness & Exercise program on Jan. 19 at 6:30-8 p.m. in the Plainfield Recreation Center. To register, call 860-889-8331, ext. 6381.
When people wait to seek healthcare until it is an emergency because they are without insurance or don’t want to pay a deductible, many times it is too late and their illness has progressed to the point where it is serious and possibly untreatable. Having a medical home can help patients lead healthier lifestyles, and prevent more serious illnesses.
Some of the most important healthcare now occurs before you ever get sick. Having a medical home provides a foundation for this.
Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator at the The William W. Backus Hospital Education Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
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