| Is Long-term Care Working Studies indicate that long-term care hospitals discharge a disproportionately large share of patients during a window when they stand to make the most money from reimbursements. The findings are troubling and point to the increased need to have a healthcare advocate that works for you. To provide the level of advocacy needed to assure hospital services match patient needs it helps to have a personal physician overseeing admission, care while at the hospital and continuity of care after leaving the hospital. To accommodate the additional time needed, physicians increasingly offer services called personalized medicine, prevention and wellness and concierge medicine. With the additional time, physicians have time to listen, make good medical decisions and truly know their patients. In essence, a return to what family practice once was – a doctor that treats each member individually. When asked what they want in a doctor, the most common expectations include: An emphasis on prevention, A doctor that knows them, A doctor that can be there when needed most, A doctor that can understand complex medical problems A doctor that listens Unfortunately, that level of service no longer exists in a system that’s moving toward ever shorter appointments. The alternative is personalized medicine, often also called concierge medicine where the guiding principles are prevention, early detection, ready response and advocacy where your physician is also your “medical quarterback” that coordinates care, anticipates problems, and respond to the first sign of an illness as promptly as possible. Getting quality medical service will increasingly require selecting a doctor that offers a more personalized service. For a fee, seniors can contract with a personal care/concierge doctor that offers prompt access, adequate time for appointments, options for calling them directly, time to make good medical decisions, and advocacy when seeking care beyond the primary care doctor’s office. In Huntsville, Alabama, many view the opportunity to obtain personal care as a positive since it provides their doctor time to listen, make the best medical decisions and teach them what they need to know rather than 5-7 minute appointments where healthcare needs get kicked down the road. By providing adequate appointment time and care, this new type of personal care doctor helps keep their patients maintain the best quality of life, stay out of the hospital and avoid unnecessary procedures. Tell Me More about Concierge Physicians in Huntsville, Alabama. Exit |