As WebMD’s chief medical officer, John Whyte, MD, is in a singular place to see each the present state of medical take care of America’s older adults and the way in which issues are trending for the longer term. We requested him to share his perception on a couple of matters, together with a bit of recommendation.
WebMD: What are a few of the greatest entry to well being care points dealing with older adults at present?
JW: Value, transportation, and high quality of care stay a few of the greatest points in relation to well being take care of older adults. Medicare doesn’t cowl 100% of prices, and plenty of sufferers battle to pay for his or her prescriptions and physician payments. Consequently, generally they don’t go to the physician as typically as they should, and infrequently they will’t refill their prescriptions. Lack of satisfactory transportation has made it troublesome for a lot of older adults to obtain care — they merely can’t get to their appointments. As older adults develop extra well being situations and their time with the physician will get shorter and shorter, it may be troublesome to handle all their well being care wants. Consequently, it may be exhausting to maintain situations like diabetes and blood stress underneath management.
WebMD: How will know-how change the way in which older adults entry well being care throughout the subsequent decade?
JW: Everybody, together with older adults, must develop into extra tech-savvy when participating with the well being care system. Digital instruments, reminiscent of sensors and trackers, have gotten extra helpful in managing these situations, like diabetes and hypertension, that brief workplace visits don’t all the time give us time to handle. Digital actuality instruments may also develop into extra widespread. On condition that many individuals didn’t develop up with most of these applied sciences, it would make entry to well being care tougher for some teams. We’d like to ensure everybody — particularly older adults — has entry to improvements that can enhance their expertise with the well being care system and result in higher outcomes.
WebMD: How will COVID-19 change the character of doctor-patient interplay?
JW: Within the short-term, COVID-19 has had monumental impression on the doctor-patient relationship. Immediately nearly each go to became a digital go to. Sadly, in some circumstances, each the physician and the affected person weren’t adequately ready for this abrupt change. Many individuals have been unnoticed fully or acquired lower than optimum care. However the information isn’t all dangerous. For others, it was a technique to carry the physician to them, as an alternative of them having to go to the physician. Know-how will help us remedy a few of these transportation points I referred to above. As we transfer into “the brand new regular,” I feel nearly all of physician visits might be in-person, however telehealth will play a a lot bigger position. I additionally suppose we’ll see extra companies delivered immediately within the dwelling.
WebMD: What’s the No. 1 piece of recommendation you’d give to a affected person or caregiver about easy methods to efficiently work together with the well being care system?
JW: Whether or not you’re a self-advocate or caring for another person, a profitable interplay with the well being care system requires persistence. Everyone knows the phrase, “the squeaky wheel will get the grease.” Typically you must be a that squeaky wheel. The well being care system will be very difficult to navigate. There are quite a lot of laws than can impression your entry to care, and they are often complicated. Typically your method doesn’t work the primary time. So you want to preserve at it when accessing sure companies, and you want to converse up. There’s additionally an attention-grabbing dynamic with older adults in relation to well being care: They typically say they don’t wish to hassle their physician, or they wish to be a “good affected person.” We now have to assist them perceive that being a great affected person or a great advocate for another person means getting what you want to be sure you get high quality care.
WebMD: For those who have been speaking to a beloved one over 70, what’s the No. 1 piece of well being care recommendation you’d give them with regard to taking good care of themselves?
JW: It’s by no means too late to reap the advantages of a wholesome life-style. For those who smoke, give up. For those who aren’t bodily energetic, begin slowly — even when it means merely not sitting as a lot all through the day. Being energetic doesn’t imply having to go to the fitness center. There’s quite a bit you are able to do at dwelling. Check out what you’re consuming and begin to deal with meals as drugs. It may be as highly effective as a prescription drug — and in some circumstances, it might enable you to eliminate a couple of medication you’re taking. Lastly, take heed to your physique. Whenever you don’t really feel good, test in together with your physician.
