Avoid Disaster

28 Health & Well ness October 2010- Lee Edition
Physician House Calls:
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Many of us can fondly remember when
our doctors visited us at home. Our
physicians were friends and confidants.
It was a warm and comfortable relationship,
which assisted the healing process.
Unfortunately over the years physician house calls
have virtually disappeared. Medicare and private
insurance companies would not cover the full cost
of the service. Hospitals became the centers of
modern medical technology and doctors wanted to
be near the hospitals. As more and more people got
automobiles they had the mobility to go where the
doctors were. But now things are changing again.
In fact, they are even better than they used to be.
Not only can we have our physicians visit patients'
homes but we can also have the latest in medical
equipment arrive with them. In short, we can now
have the best of both worlds.
Dr. Donald DiPasco, Medical Director of Total
Senior Mobile Physicians, observed, "We knew that
delivering physician services in the home setting
was beneficial for our patients. It improves the
quality of care we can deliver and at the same time
it saves the government and insurance carriers a lot
of money. What we didn't know was how the public
would respond to this time proven approach to
medicine. It's important to remember that 50 to 60
years ago 40% of physician visits took place in the
home. Well, it didn't take long to get our answer.
Patients love the convenience, particularly when
they are too sick to travel to a doctor's office or do
not have the means to do so."
The big difference between now and 50 years ago
are the advancements that have been made in
mobile medical technologv. The doctor can now
bring much more than the traditional black bag.
Today the mobile physician brings with him the
capability to do x-rays, EKG's, Holter monitors,
spirometry, ultra-sound and more, right in the home.
Consider how potential heart problems were
handled in the past. A doctor might have prescribed
nitroglycerin pills and bed rest. Today that patient
would have access to the latest diagnostic medical
equipment, and witb the assistance of tbis technology
a very accurate diagnosis would be made and an
appropriate treatment plan formulated.
Dr. DiPasco also praised today's information
systems as a catalyst to bringing doctors back home.
For example, be noted that tbe advent of wireless
communications technology means that the
patient's entire medical history can be transmitted
electronically directly to tbe pbysician at the point
of delivery. The doctor emphasized that access to a
patient's medical records is critical to delivering a
high standard of medical care. For instance, "if! am
seeing Mrs. Jones, and I get a message that Mrs.
Smith needs an unscheduled visit, I can have all of
tbe information we need about Mrs. Smitb at my
fingertips instantaneously." And the system is more
secure, in terms of privacy, than the traditional
medical chart.
We have made a big investment in the future. Total
Senior Mobile Physicians has taken the lead to
ensure better, faster and more economical bealtbcare
to its patients.
Dr. DiPasco also emphasized continuity of care,
which, as be explained, is an important part of
treating the whole patient. "Each of our physicians,"
he explained, "only make house calls. Of course tbe
patient must make hislher appointment ahead of
time. In an emergency, however, we will always
have the patient covered."
While Dr. DiPasco listed all of the benefits of home
visits, he also discussed tbe benefits of bouse calls
to assisted living and long-term care facilities. "Our
practice is of tremendous benefit to all patients who
reside in retirement communities", he said. Take for
example situations where patients become ill but
because there is not enough information to determine
tbe extent of their illness they are sent by
ambulance to a hospital emergency room. Many of
these patients do not need hospitalization and are
sent rigbt back home. Tbey go through a lot of
unnecessary anxiety and expense when they could
have been treated conveniently in their home.
"In contrast, our physicians see
the patient the same day in
hislher own environment with all
of hislher medical records, have
the ability to get all of the vital
statistics from the lab and have
the entire medical background of
the individual being treated. That
results in better health care and
savings to the patient."
In conclusion, Dr. DiPasco made a poignant observation.
"Treating patients in a familiar environment
be Ips them stay independent longer. Our
mission at Total Senior Mobile Physicians is to
bring high quality medical care including advance
medical technology to our patients' wben and
where they need it. By doing this we address all of
our patients needs including physical, emotional
and social components."
For more information on Total Senior
Mobile PhYSicians house calls, please call
239-495-5315.
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