As WebMD’s chief medical officer, John Whyte, MD, is in a novel place to see each the present state of medical look after America’s older adults and the best way issues are trending for the longer term. We requested him to share his perception on a number of matters, together with a bit of recommendation.
WebMD: What are a number of the largest entry to well being care points dealing with older adults as we speak?
JW: Price, transportation, and high quality of care stay a number of the largest points with regards to well being look after older adults. Medicare doesn’t cowl 100% of prices, and plenty of sufferers wrestle to pay for his or her prescriptions and physician payments. In consequence, generally they don’t go to the physician as typically as they should, and sometimes 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 circumstances and their time with the physician will get shorter and shorter, it may be troublesome to deal with all their well being care wants. In consequence, it may be arduous to maintain circumstances like diabetes and blood stress underneath management.
WebMD: How will expertise change the best way older adults entry well being care throughout the subsequent decade?
JW: Everybody, together with older adults, must turn into extra tech-savvy when partaking with the well being care system. Digital instruments, corresponding to sensors and trackers, have gotten extra helpful in managing these circumstances, like diabetes and hypertension, that quick workplace visits don’t at all times give us time to deal with. Digital actuality instruments will even turn into extra widespread. On condition that many individuals didn’t develop up with these kind of applied sciences, it would make entry to well being care tougher for some teams. We want to ensure everybody — particularly older adults — has entry to improvements that may 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. Instantly 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 had been unnoticed utterly or obtained lower than optimum care. However the information isn’t all dangerous. For others, it was a method to carry the physician to them, as an alternative of them having to go to the physician. Know-how can assist us resolve a few of these transportation points I referred to above. As we transfer into “the brand new regular,” I feel the vast majority of physician visits can be in-person, however telehealth will play a a lot bigger position. I additionally assume we’ll see extra providers delivered immediately within the residence.
WebMD: What’s the No. 1 piece of recommendation you’d give to a affected person or caregiver about find out how 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 need to be a that squeaky wheel. The well being care system might be very difficult to navigate. There are numerous laws than can impression your entry to care, and they are often complicated. Typically your method doesn’t work the primary time. So you’ll want to hold at it when accessing sure providers, and you’ll want to converse up. There’s additionally an attention-grabbing dynamic with older adults with regards to well being care: They typically say they don’t wish to trouble their physician, or they wish to be a “good affected person.” We’ve got to assist them perceive that being an excellent affected person or an excellent advocate for another person means getting what you’ll want to be sure to get high quality care.
WebMD: In the event you had been speaking to a liked 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. In the event you smoke, stop. In the event you 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 health club. There’s rather a lot you are able to do at residence. 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 could make it easier to eliminate a number of medication you’re taking. Lastly, hearken to your physique. Whenever you don’t really feel good, verify in together with your physician.
