Role of Primary Care Physicians in Chronic Medical Illness
Does your chronic medical illness need regular check-ups and screening? When you think of your doctor, you may think of them as medical professionals who care for your everyday health problems and recommend a medical examination.
Your primary care physician does all this. However, if you have a chronic illness condition, your physician can play a unique role in maintaining your health. i.e., the role of a chronic disease specialist who can treat your condition.
Chronic illness is an apex health illness today that lasts for more than a year and requires continuous treatment, restrictions on activities of daily living, or both. It includes heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, etc.
Role of your primary care physician
Treating your chronic condition with the help of your primary care physician in Apex can improve your quality of life. At the same time, you can reduce your health care costs by preventing or minimizing the effects of chronic illness.
Regular visits keep you and your doctor connected, leading to better and more collaborative care. Your primary care physician can also help you identify the care gaps and monitor your condition during scheduled visits.
Services for treating your chronic illness:
Regular visits to primary care physicians in Apex may include health examinations, treatment monitoring, coordination, and patient education to help manage chronic conditions. Let’s have a look.
- Screening:
Identifying risk factors through screening helps prevent disease and reduce the severity through early detection. For example, monitoring your blood pressure is the most effective way to prevent heart disease and stroke.
- Control:
Through these visits to your physician, you can access essential chronic medical illness treatment and learn how to manage your chronic illness. If you have chronic heart disease, you can talk to an apex primary care physician to ensure you are in good control of your condition over the long term.
- Coordinating Care:
A doctor familiar with your medical history and acts as your care coordinator avoids redundant medical tests and procedures, unnecessary visits, and hospitalizations to emergency rooms, and medication errors.
- Patient education:
Your physician will help you understand your health goals, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, and work towards better health.
How to choose a primary care physician
Choosing your doctor is an essential step in managing your health care. Whether you intend to have a short-term or long-term relationship with your physician, you need to choose someone comfortable, knowledgeable, and able to meet your medical needs in an honest conversation.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right doctor for your primary chronic medical illness treatment.
- Identify the doctors who are participating in the network:
Most health insurance companies negotiate special discount rates with specific doctors and hospitals in your area, reducing the out-of-pocket cost of visiting a doctor for insurance purposes.
- Ask for recommendations:
Many find it most comfortable to meet a doctor recommended by an acquaintance, such as a family member, colleague, or friend. Ask around to see which doctor your family and friends are visiting. You can also ask other medical professionals you are in contact with.
- Think about location and distance:
Want a doctor near where you live and work? Find a doctor whose clinic is easy to reach, the business hours, days of the week, and hours when your doctor sees your patient. It is also advisable to check the hospital where the doctor is referring the patient.
- Visit the doctor:
Nothing gives you a sense of whether you have chosen the right doctor to visit the office and meet in person. Make sure you are comfortable in the office and with doctors and nurses.
Think about the actions of people who answer the phone and greet you when you come in, and are they efficient and friendly? Is the phone answered promptly? And how long does it take to make an appointment and see a doctor after you reach your promise?
The Bottom Line:
Your apex primary care physician must be someone you can trust and rely on to manage your health care. Talk to him or her about the current medication you are taking and your medical history, as well as ensure that your health condition is the same or improving regarding managing your chronic illness.
