You may have heard the term “continuity of care.” However, do you understand what this term means and how your family doctor fosters your long-term health?
Let’s look at the many benefits of coordinating medical care in all settings and how your doctor facilitates that for the best medical care.
What Is Continuity of Medical Care?
Continuity of medical care refers to the consistent and ongoing relationship between patient and family doctor. This type of care maintains good health over time. It focuses on personalized and comprehensive treatment plans that take into account:
- Results of physical examinations and routine tests
- Medical history
- Age
- Gender
- Family history (the conditions which seem to run in your family)
- Risk factors, such as sedentariness, smoking, stress, and diet
- Medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements
Continuity of care through a family doctor also ensures that you receive quality care even when referred to other providers for testing, surgery, physical therapy, and other kinds of medical care.
How Does Continuity of Care with a Family Doctor Benefit Your Long-term Health?
Continuity of care benefits you in a number of ways, including the following.
Trust-Building
One of the most significant benefits of continuity of care is trust and rapport with your family doctor. When you have a relationship with a provider you know well, you feel comfortable reporting and discussing any health concerns or questions.
In return, your family doctor will arrive at more accurate diagnoses because you have communicated completely, honestly, and accurately. As the patient, you will enjoy improved overall health outcomes.
Understanding Your History
Having a consistent healthcare provider also means having someone who knows your medical history. Your family doctor can track and manage any changes or patterns in your health over time. This especially impacts the accuracy of medical care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and other complex issues.
Personalized Medical Care
Moreover, continuity of care allows for more personalized treatment plans. Your family doctor considers your current symptoms, lifestyle, home environment, job, and more.
Your family doctor can work with you to create a plan that fits your unique circumstances and goals. This approach is far superior to following a one-size-fits-all approach to patient care.
For instance, your family doctor will work with you on a medically supervised smoking cessation program. Stopping smoking requires support and accountability from a caring physician and also helps with nicotine patches, support groups, and behavior modification techniques.
Protection and Transfer of Your Electronic Health Record (EHR)
In these days of paperless medical charts, your family doctor updates, keeps, and maintains the security of information regarding your health status. Your EHR will be safely transferred when your provider refers you to another provider for care.
Additionally, family doctors communicate about prescription refills and test results and provide a forum for asking questions and commenting. This is done through the HIPAA-protected, encrypted patient portal on the doctor’s website.
Other Benefits of Continuity of Care
Besides delivering these benefits, continuity of care also promotes better coordination among different healthcare providers. When all of your doctors are aware of your care plans, medications, and test results, it reduces the risk of duplicate tests or conflicting treatments.
In addition, if you are admitted to the hospital for acute care or surgery, you will see your family doctor for follow-up care and advice. This also applies to outpatient care, such as an emergency room or walk-in clinic visit.
Optimizing Your Healthcare with Your Internal Medicine Doctor in West Orange, NJ
At Hudson MD Group, our caring physicians and their support team are ready and eager to help you have your best possible health and well-being.
So, if it’s time for your annual check-up, or you need acute care or want guidance on a chronic health problem, call Hudson MD Group at (973) 705-4914 for an appointment with your provider. Or request a visit online here.
We want you to have the most vibrant health possible, and continuity of care in our multispecialty practice is a way to achieve it.
