What to expect at your primary care visit

Visiting your major care supplier is now digital or in-person

Well being care is altering, and there are new, handy methods to handle your well being. From digital visits and well being administration apps to going to a conventional appointment, well being care suppliers and assets are extra accessible than ever.

To serve you higher, OSF HealthCare now provides extra methods so that you can handle your well being. As a affected person, you now have extra choices for in-person and digital pressing care choices for minor accidents and diseases, digital major care choices and higher entry for the standard face-to-face workplace go to.

Mark Meeker, DO, an inner medication doctor with OSF HealthCare, talks about how these adjustments can have an effect on your well being care journey.

“With an eye fixed on security and comfort, well being care clinicians are offering completely different and handy methods so that you can handle your well being and join along with your doctor or superior observe supplier,” Dr. Meeker stated. “We wish to conveniently improve the contact factors between sufferers and their care groups to boost the standard of care they obtain.”

Whether or not you select a digital or workplace go to, you’re in a position to focus on a wide range of matters, together with:

• Power sickness administration
• Coordinating care with different specialists
• Lab outcomes
• Way of life adjustments
• Treatment renewals or adjustments
• Mental health
• New bodily points or issues
• Suggestions for health screenings

The trade-off to a digital go to is the shortage of in-person interplay. Being in the identical room permits your major care supplier (PCP) to get a way of your total well-being and do a hands-on bodily examination.

Nonetheless, if you happen to haven’t skilled any new signs or have any issues, a digital go to is a secure and handy different to fulfill your total well being targets, Dr. Meeker stated. Nevertheless it doesn’t utterly change the necessity for an workplace go to.

Digital visits

Meet along with your PCP through a smartphone, pill or pc.

Step one is to start out or sign up to your OSF MyChart account. You’ll undergo a registration course of the place you’ll need to enter your private and insurance coverage data. You could be required to take an image of sure paperwork, ID and insurance coverage card, and add them to your account, so have this data out there.

A nurse or assistant will then do a fundamental well being evaluation earlier than your clinician joins the video name.

Your PCP will nonetheless be capable to order lab assessments, refill prescriptions and decide if that you must come to the workplace for a bodily examination.

“Digital visits permit an open line of communication whereas avoiding pointless dangers,” Dr. Meeker stated, acknowledging that they’re additionally a fantastic resolution when a visit to the workplace just isn’t handy.

Workplace visits

The normal well being care route won’t ever get replaced. Seeing your supplier in-person is crucial for good well being.

“With a face-to-face workplace go to, I can look at your coronary heart, ears, head and neck, lungs, abdomen and throat to see if in case you have any ache or bother in these areas,” Dr. Meeker stated. “In-person visits additionally permit us to take an correct physique mass index, coronary heart fee and blood stress readings. Usually, with one thing like hypertension, there aren’t any indicators or signs.

“Acute and continual diseases may result in bodily examination findings that affect our therapy plans, and people need to be seemed for and monitored on an episodic foundation.”

Don’t overlook to carry a sound picture ID, insurance coverage card, medical historical past and an inventory of your drugs.

Irrespective of which sort of go to you select, be an active participant. Put together an inventory of questions and issues to debate along with your supplier. Your major care supplier is a long-term accomplice in your well being administration, so it’s essential to work with a supplier who’s best for you and your loved ones and the strategies for receiving care.

To be taught suggestions for speaking to your major care supplier, click here.

Final Up to date: April 1, 2022