How Primary Care Home Visits Improve Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Not only do they cause a lot of pain and suffering, but they can also make it difficult for a person to go about their daily routine. Simple activities such as going grocery shopping or visiting family can become an incredible challenge, leaving many suffering from chronic diseases unable to leave their homes. This also means that patients suffering from chronic diseases may find themselves unable to get to a doctor and get the help they need with their condition.
Primary care home visits can help chronic disease patients receive treatment in their homes, allowing them to manage symptoms and receive care and advice that can make a huge difference in people’s lives. This can assist patients struggling to leave their homes to take a positive step towards managing symptoms and resuming everyday activities.
What Is Chronic Disease Management?
Chronic disease management is the care provided to patients suffering from long-term or chronic conditions. The care and treatments are specifically designed to help ease and manage symptoms so that patients can continue to enjoy their daily lives.
What is a chronic disease?
A chronic disease is a disease or condition that lasts for several months, reoccurs, or worsens over time. Many of these diseases can be managed but not fully cured, causing persistent symptoms.
Some examples of common chronic diseases include:
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Back pain
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Mental health conditions
- Osteoporosis
Other conditions may be diagnosed as chronic, especially if the patient has suffered with it for several months or more.
How Primary Care Home Visits Can Help
Primary care home visits can help chronic disease patients get the help they need in a familiar, comfortable environment. They can give them relief from symptoms and tools to manage their condition so that they can resume their everyday activities. This can be a vital service for patients who may not be able to seek medical care through other means due to the limitations caused by their condition.
Some of the many ways primary care home visits can help include:
Individualized care
Primary care home visits help ensure every patient receives individualized care, considering their needs and challenges in living independently. Being seen in their homes gives medical professionals a clearer picture of the patient’s surroundings and needs, meaning they are better equipped to provide tailored care.
Enhanced communication with healthcare professionals
At Community Healthcare Partners, we offer to enroll eligible patients in our chronic care management service. Some of the perks include 24/7 access to qualified healthcare professionals, care coordination with your routine provider, enhanced communication methods, and more. This service allows patients to contact medical professionals with urgent requests, regardless of the time or day of the week.
More frequent monitoring
Chronic conditions can be unpredictable, and changes can happen at any time. With the help of primary care home visits, patients can benefit from more frequent monitoring that will assess changes in their condition and address care and treatment plans accordingly. With a regular treatment plan, patients can benefit from expert care from the comfort of their own homes.
Early detection of complications
Complications or deterioration may not always be easy to spot for a patient suffering from a chronic condition. Thanks to regular at-home primary care visits, however, complications can be detected early, allowing decisions to be made about treatment plans that could prevent conditions from worsening.
Timely adjustments to your treatment plan
Personalized care ensures that all treatments are regularly adjusted based on the individual's needs. Patients can develop familiarity with their caregivers, helping them feel more comfortable discussing any changes to their condition.
Better medication management
Many people with chronic diseases will need help with their medication. Not only do primary care visits help ensure that patients are given the correct dosage of medication to help manage their symptoms, but they may also need help administering their medication. Diabetes and chronic kidney disease are two examples of chronic conditions where medication may need to be administered regularly.
Medication management can also help patients whose mobility is affected get the medication they need, preventing conditions from worsening.
Personalized patient education
Dealing with a chronic condition can be overwhelming, especially when first diagnosed. With personalized patient education, patients can learn more about their condition, its symptoms, and how to manage it.
Holistic care (physical, emotional, social)
Chronic diseases come with many different symptoms and complications. Patients can feel physical, emotional, and social effects from their condition, which they may not be able to process and manage by themselves. With the help of primary care home visits, patients can receive quality care that addresses how their chronic disease affects them, with solutions and guidance that can help them thrive.
Get in Touch
If you or a loved one suffers from a chronic disease, contact Community Healthcare Partners for help today. Our team is here to answer your questions and provide primary care home visits that meaningfully impact your health.