SR Health Guide BODY & INSERT 2018

O N - SITE M EDICAL C ARE – T HE D OCTOR IS IN ! side effects and interactions, which may be difficult for the patient to manage alone. On-site primary care allows for a complete review of the patient’s ongoing plan of care thereby reducing risks from medications, and improving understanding of On-site primary care visits from a medical provider help establish a more per- sonal doctor-patient relation- ship. Seeing patients at their place of residence allows the provider to work with the on-site care team to monitor medications more closely, evaluate living space for possible safety issues, and get a better sense of how the patient is doing in general. Care team collaboration with other on-site service partners such as home care and hos- pice staff also allows for bet- ter communication and effi- ciencies in care for these patients. the full picture of the patient’s health status.

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n-site medical care is designed to meet the unique and growing needs of patients living in residential care com- munities. Residents of care communities more often than not, have complex chronic conditions, memory issues, and multiple medications requiring close oversight by a physician care team. By using a collabora- tive, team-based, on-site, med- ical care program, it is possible to reduce the need for emer- gency room visits and trips to the hospital which leads to sig- nificant improvement in the overall care of the patient and peace of mind for their fami- lies. For those with loved ones in residential care communities, it can be a daunting challenge to transport them to a clinic setting for regular office visits. If there are complex care needs, multiple specialty visits can add to this burden. It is not unusual for patients in res- idential care communities to experience fragmented care with lack of overall care plan oversight. If multiple doctors are involved trying to manage a variety of chronic issues, this can result in a number of pre- scriptions, all with different

Those who reside in residen- tial communities deserve com- passionate medical care, social and psychological support, and awareness of their wishes. On-site providers have found that getting to know the patient at home, on a regular basis, helps accomplish this goal, and has an enormous positive impact on the well- being of the patient.

Article Submitted By: Bluestone Physician Services

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