Last week in (Part 1) of proactive patient-centered care, we explored a trend in healthcare spurred on by the pandemic that has moved the needle from a reactive care model toward a more proactive patient-centered model. This week we are looking at some of the components South Carolina & Georgia House Calls (SC & GA HC) utilizes in their proactive care model.
Scheduling Appointments: The SC & GA HC Center for Telehealth, a 24-7 operation encompassing multiple disciplines, works together to provide in-home and telehealth patient care. Patient advocates, intake navigators, schedulers (make case managers), doctors, nurses, specialists, pharmacists, and medical assistants work together to complete 40,000 + medical visits throughout South Carolina & Georgia monthly. With the average appointment window of three weeks for a traditional office visit, SC & GA HC attempts to see their patients in as little as three days.
Monitoring vitals: Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) allows daily capture of a patient's vital signs in the home. The RPM technology measures oxygen saturation, weight, blood pressure, pulse and thermometer (added). Captured data is transmitted to a central location where medical professionals analyze it. For patients suffering from chronic illnesses, this technology has proven invaluable for allowing a quicker response from clinicians to avoid preventable hospitalizations.
Specialists: Multiple studies have shown a clear correlation between regular healthcare access and reducing hospitalizations. SC & GA HC, in addition to in-home primary care, has integrated over ten specialty services into its practice offering patients a complete care solution. This team approach to patient care facilitates better communication and collaboration between providers and gives patients the same in-home convenience through telehealth visits.
Pharmacy Consults: SC & GA HC provides pharmacy consults through SC Home Rx for all new patients as a proactive approach to medication management. The consults seek to increase medication adherence by educating patients about their currently prescribed medications. The pharmacist evaluates each drug during the consult and looks for redundancies or medicines prescribed to treat the side effects of other medications. Often, a consult will eliminate unnecessary drugs, saving the patient money.
Patient Portal: What if you could have all your healthcare information in one place? The patient portal is a secure digital location where all your records, lab results, billing information, appointments, and communication links to your provider can be found. The portal is a perfect example of a patient-centric application that gives you complete control of your healthcare information.
SC & GA House Calls believes that patient care is a partnership, and by educating and involving their patients in their care, they can achieve better outcomes. Technology and mobile services have given healthcare companies a pathway to transform traditional primary care into a viable in-home solution. This proactive care delivery enhances the provider-patient relationship and delivers a convenient in-home solution that is the very definition of patient-centric healthcare.
