“In the Erickson HealthSM system, our doctors average 15 patients a day. Here in Pennsylvania it’s not uncommon for outside doctors to handle 60 patients a day, which means not always spending as much with each person as they would like,” says John Marcelis, medical director of Ann’s Choice, an Erickson community in Pennsylvania, which is not the only state suffering from this dilemma.
Adding the Specialized Expert
Older people often see more than one specialist— cardiologists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and other specialists face a time crunch that’s sometimes worse than a primary care doctor’s schedule. “They are doing exams, and are often in surgery,” says Narrett.
He notes that when Erickson HealthSM physicians work with outside specialists, it’s not unusual for two weeks to pass before they get an evaluation and any recommendations for their patient. That is not the case working within the Erickson HealthSM system. “We have a specialized electronic medical records system, Centricity, that allows physicians to access your medical records and communicate that information instantaneously,” adds Narrett.
Staying in Charge
Get copies of your medical records and make sure (at the very least) that your primary physician has a set. Your spouse, child, or other caregiver should know where this information is and how to access it. Make sure your primary physician knows any specialists you are seeing and try to get your doctors to communicate.
“I have people who travel and bring copies of their records with them. As a resident of Tallgrass Creek, we can print out your electronic medical record in minutes and give you a legible, accurate copy. That can make all the difference when you need medical attention far from home or even just when visiting your specialist,” says Narrett.
Finally, don’t forget there are other aspects of your health care you can build into your “team” approach. “Your health program should address not just your physical well-being, but also your social, spiritual, and psychological needs,” says Marcelis.
Marcelis notes that among the supplemental services people can rely on as part of Erickson HealthSM are housekeeping, meal preparation, wellness/fitness programs, and counseling. If you don’t have access to the Erickson HealthSM system at Tallgrass Creek, the local Department of Aging can often direct you to somewhat similar help.