Are you getting the best healthcare for you or your loved one if you are 60 years or older? Unfortunately, many people don’t see a primary care doctor or provider (also known as a PCP) regularly. If they become ill or injured, they don’t know where to go and lack continuity of care.
Furthermore, visits to urgent care or the emergency room can be very costly, with long wait times.
Thankfully, at AgeWell Medical Associates, PC, in Colorado Springs, we specialize in personalized primary care for patients 60 years and older. Overall, we help you save time and money, thereby allowing you to enjoy a longer, healthier life.
Call AgeWell today for more information on scheduling your Primary Care Provider appointment:
What Is Primary Care?
Primary care is important for maintaining good health. It is your first line of defense against more severe, life-threatening conditions. Our Primary Care Providers give all-encompassing care. They are trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of medical issues such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and dementia.
How Does Primary Care Help You?
You cannot overstate the value of primary care. The following are a few reasons seeing a primary care provider regularly is vital for maintaining long-term health.
Helps You Live Longer:
Research shows that people with a primary care provider (PCP) live longer than those without one. This is because people who regularly visit a PCP are more apt to discover life-shortening illnesses like stroke, heart disease, or even cancer. Generally, the earlier these serious medical conditions are detected, the sooner and better the chance that medical intervention can prevent loss of life.
They Know You and Provide Personalized Care:
Regular visits to your PCP best assure continuity of care. Even if you visit another medical specialist, the emergency room, or urgent care, it’s important to share the details and records of your visit with your PCP. He or she can then better understand and know your health history to provide you with the best, most appropriate, and most personalized care.
They Can Coordinate Your Care:
You may sometimes be referred to a specialist. However, your PCP will continue to coordinate your overall care plan. He or she can help explain the various treatments and diagnoses given to you by other medical professionals.
They Help You Stay Healthy:
Your PCP can help you stay out of the hospital by recommending healthy lifestyle choices, monitoring medications, conducting regular exams, and asking you questions about your overall health.
They Coordinate Recommended Screenings:
Your PCP arranges colonoscopies, bone density tests, mammograms, and more. These routine screenings can be the difference between life and death when illnesses are found in their earliest stages.
They Manage Your Chronic Conditions:
Dementia, diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and hypertension are examples of chronic conditions. Regular in-office testing provided by your PCP is very important in managing these conditions.
They Save You Time:
Life is busy. Thankfully, primary care can save you time. You can schedule a time to be seen, often on the same day, and alleviate long wait times at urgent care or the emergency room.
They Save You Money:
Current statistics show that the average three-day hospital stay costs around $30,000. Primary care aims to prevent, find, and treat problems early to help avoid more serious health complications.
Reference: peoplekeep.com
What’s Different About Primary Care for Patients Aged 60 and Older?
It is well known that older adults make up the bulk of patients in the health care system. These older adults often have multiple chronic conditions and are seen by many providers in various facilities. Primary care at AgeWell is a vital part of well-rounded medical care. Sure, you might still have to see a specialist now and again. However, simply having a go-to point person will reduce the overall confusion of your medical care. It will also save you time and money, as well as help you establish a valuable relationship with a trusted medical professional.