Patients of primary care - regardless of whether they live in a large city or small town - gain the support of a coordinator, wider access to diagnostic tests. The pool of additional tests under coordinated care allows family medicine specialists to make full use of their knowledge and experience, while patients have faster diagnosis and intensified treatment.
PCP: How does coordinated care work? Mrs. Helena from Dzietrzychow found out for herself
Published April 15, 2024 07:52
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Mrs. Helena from Dzietrzychow (Sepopol municipality) found this out. In March, the 79-year-old reported to her family doctor, Anna Osowska, at the POZ clinic in Sepopol, because of her deteriorating health. Ms. Helena had a feeling of tightness in her chest, was getting tired faster and noticed swelling in her lower extremities.
- The patient had comorbidities - diabetes and hypertension. When she approached me, instead of talking about her ailments, she asked for a referral to a cardiologist, but stressed that she would have to wait a long time for a specialist appointment," says Dr. Anna Osowska, an expert with the Federation Porozumienie Zielonogórskie.
The doctor asked about the symptoms and examined the patient. At the PCP, she performed an EKG. She then explained that it was not necessary to see a cardiologist at the moment, but the patient needed to be diagnosed for heart failure. The patient was referred for a heart echo. The clinic's coordinator contacted the Bartoszyce County Hospital and the test date was scheduled in two days.
The patient was surprised by the speed of action. At the hospital, everything went punctually and smoothly. The PCP, on a subsequent visit, assured her that the test results were satisfactory and she did not currently require further cardiac diagnostics.
Currently, the patient is under coordinated care at the PCP, takes her medications as prescribed by her doctor, and is given follow-up appointments by the coordinator.
- I have great satisfaction that I was able to diagnose Mrs. Helena so quickly. It's thanks to the fact that I implement coordinated care at my POZ in Sepopol that I can help patients with cardiology, diabetology, endocrinology and lung diseases. The pool of additional examinations allows me to use my knowledge and experience, while patients have the right diagnosis and intensified treatment more quickly," says lek. Anna Osowska. - Now that Ms. Helena had the necessary diagnostics performed - I could implement additional treatment, recommend physical activity, because the patient has properly treated diabetes and hypertension and does not report further complaints. I hope that now the patient's health condition and her quality of life will improve.
Currently, more than 32 percent of POZ providers have a contract to implement coordinated care.
Source: Federation Zielonogórskie Porozumienie Zielonogórskie
