Everybody knows the health care system is in a state of crisis. But there’s one thing that isn’t often talked about: There’s an easy fix. The solution is called a health care home, and it’s something that every family can use. In this article, we’ll explain what a health care home does and why you need one for your family. We’ll also show you how to find one near you!
Connects a Family to the Right Specialists and Supports
A health care home is a team of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who work together to help you manage your health. A family-centered approach means that your doctor will coordinate with other specialists on your behalf. This includes working with social workers, case managers, or mental health professionals if needed.
It’s important to have a single place where you go for all of your medical needs so that providers can keep track of important information about you and make sure they’re working together effectively. Having this kind of coordination between doctors helps keep everyone informed about what’s going on in the life of their patient and it makes sure that everyone has access to everything they need when providing care.
The Right Doctor Is Part to Makes a Health Care Home Great
A health care home is a team approach to care. It’s not just about one doctor, but also the nurse and social worker who help with your medical needs. The right doctor is only part of what makes a health care home great!
Other parts include:
- A nurse who knows you well and can answer your questions about medications or procedures before they happen.
- A social worker helps coordinate other services like transportation or physical therapy if needed.
- Accessibility via phone no more waiting until Monday morning (or worse yet Friday afternoon) when offices are closed!
A Health Care Home Gives Families Care Coordination
A health care home is a team of medical professionals and other providers who help coordinate your care. It’s designed to help you get the right care at the right time. If you have a condition that requires ongoing monitoring, such as diabetes or asthma, your health care home may include:
Your primary care physician (PCP) – A PCP is the first person to see if you’re experiencing symptoms of a serious illness or injury and can recommend when to see other specialists in addition to providing general medical advice. A PCP also provides preventive services such as annual checkups and screenings; tests for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors; immunizations against diseases like influenza; counseling on smoking cessation or weight loss programs; referrals for mental health counseling when needed, etc.
Health Care Homes aren’t Just for Kids with Chronic Conditions
If you’re worried about cost and want to be sure that your child is getting the right care at the right time, a health care home may be able to help. If your doctor recommends one, she can refer you to it. The best part? She’ll still be in charge of treating your child’s medical needs, it’s just that now she’ll have someone else working alongside her who knows what they’re doing when it comes to coordinating all those appointments and tests and procedures into one seamless process (and saving everyone money).
Health Care Homes Can Save Money
Health care homes can help patients avoid unnecessary trips to the ER. When you have a regular doctor, you’re more likely to get the right care at home and not have to go see an emergency room physician. This is especially true if your health care home provides 24/7 access and coordination with specialists, pharmacies, and labs.
A Health Care Home Is the Best Way to Get Coordinated
A health care home is a team of medical professionals who coordinate care for you and your family. A health care home provides coordinated, comprehensive, and cost-effective primary medical services for patients with complex medical needs. With one point of contact, you will have access to:
- Your personal physician or nurse practitioner (PP)
- A registered dietitian (RD) or nurse practitioner (NP), if needed
- Coordinated specialty care services such as behavioral health or rehabilitation services, if needed
Conclusion
Health care homes also reduce repeat visits by providing better follow-up after hospitalization or surgery. They help coordinate care between doctors outside their network so that patients don’t have gaps in treatment when switching providers due to insurance changes or job changes (for example). We hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of what a health care home is and why it’s so important. If you’re looking for more information on how to find one, check out our guide on how to choose a doctor.
