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Studies Don’t Lie:
Patients Benefit from a Strong PCP Relationship
by Christine Bucan
A
senior from Broward County According to Dr. Edwin Rodriguez, Medical Director at AvMed, this is rushed to the emergency coordinated approach will lead to better health outcomes for patients. room because she mixed “Some 15-20% of Medicare hospital admissions are due to medication medications that are contra-indicated. complications,” said Rodriguez. “By developing a strong relationship with Another bounced around from your PCP, you can avoid this.” specialist to specialist, undergoing duplicate tests and procedures. Louise Schendel, a senior from Margate who visits her PCP every three months, admits she would be lost without the lasting relationship she All of this could be avoided. has built with her PCP over the years.
More than 100 studies document the “When I have a problem, I call him and he tells me exactly where to go critical role primary care physicians and what to do. I feel like I have someone out there rooting for me,” said (PCPs) play in patient care. PCPs Schendel, an AvMed Medicare Advantage plan member for two years. can be many things for a patient — “Without my PCP I wouldn’t have the confidence on where to go and what their cheerleader, advocate and even specialists to visit.” their medical interpreter — but most importantly, the studies prove that William Pena, M.D., a primary care physician who practices in Hollywood, having a strong relationship with a often acts as an interpreter for patients who don’t always understand PCP leads to better quality of life, more productive longevity, and lower what a specialist recommends: costs as a result of reduced hospitalization, improved prevention and “They want us to explain procedures. The best way to get better results is better coordination of chronic disease care. when a patient clearly understands what they have and how to interpret tests. They need to understand their options for treatment and they rely AvMed Health Plans, one of the oldest Medicare providers in South on their PCP to help.” Florida, has embraced a more PCP-coordinated approach to healthcare. The company recently introduced CenteredCare®, which puts the PCP at To learn more about the importance of building a strong relationship with your PCP, visit AvMedMedicare.org. the center of every member’s care. www.miramartowntimes.com | To Advertise in Miramar Town Times, Please call 954-306-1007 | September 2012 MTT ALL 0912.indd 17
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