“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 the Ann’s Choice community in Pennsylvania built and managed by Erickson—and Pennsylvania is not the only state suffering.
Utilizing the Pharmacist
“In the Erickson HealthSM system our doctors have a working relationship with pharmacists based right here on campus,” says Marcelis. Do you know how strong the communication is between your doctor and pharmacist?
If not, that’s even more of a reason to make sure you have a good relationship with your pharmacist. Todays’ pharmacists play a more important role in consumer health care than ever, especially with this year’s Part D Drug plan. After all, your pharmacist may be the only health professional who knows all the medications you are taking and whether Part D covers them.
The pharmacist has a special section of the counter to tell you more—ask. And regularly ask for an updated list of your medications and doses. Keep one set and give one to your PCP.
Adding the Specialized Expert
Older people have at least one specialist and sometimes more—cardiologist, podiatrist, ophthalmologist, etc. These doctors face at least as bad a time crunch as primary doctors, sometimes worse. “They are not only doing exams, they 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 go by before they get a note with 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 and communicate information instantaneously,” adds Narrett.
Also within each community is care coordination, a kind that doesn’t yet exist in most areas. “When the average private practitioner orders physical therapy, he doesn’t necessarily know the physical therapist (PT) you will be using,” says Marcelis. That’s especially true since everyone’s health plan is probably only going to allow access to the plan’s PTs, unlike the old days where doctors could refer you to experts they knew and trusted.
The latter is the philosophy of the Erickson HealthSM system. Marcelis knows Erickson HealthSM PTs and other support personnel on a first-name basis. It’s not unusual for the health care team to communicate daily.
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. At Erickson, we can print out your 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 wellbeing, 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, the local Department of Aging can often direct you to somewhat similar help.