The doctor will (really) see you now

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The relationship with your primary care provider becomes even more important as you age and your physical, emotional and social needs change, but today’s models often fall short. Why settle for primary care that’s inconvenient, impersonal and rushed? You deserve a provider who sees you as a whole person and that takes the time to understand your goals, values and preferences.

That’s where a new model of primary care from Philadelphia-based Patina Health comes in.

Patina is reinventing primary care for older adults and their loved ones. Built on the principles of accessibility, convenience, and respecting people’s unique values and preferences, Patina provides care that’s highly personalized, with convenient virtual visits via video, chat and phone, as well as in-home visits when needed. Patients work with a dedicated Patina primary care team that specializes in working with older adults – and that stays with them over time. In addition to supporting clinical care needs, the Patina team includes a Health Champion who helps patients navigate care, coordinates with specialists and follow-up lab appointments, does the legwork on claims issues and more. The care team can also include patients’ loved ones, who can be so important when it comes to making health decisions, complying with treatment plans, and traveling to appointments.

It starts with trust

The relationship between a primary care provider and a patient should be based on trust, where the provider fully understands the patient’s specific goals and the patient is able to make informed decisions. This requires that providers devote the time and energy to really ‘know’ their patients and loved ones — not just their healthcare needs and history, but also what’s important to them. Care plans should be tailored to each patient and include options, e.g., how do you want to work with your PCP, how often do you need access, are you comfortable with a particular course or treatment or do you prefer to leave things alone, etc.?

Patients’ values and preferences are critical inputs, and having patients take the lead on what they want is vital to establishing real relationships vs. care that’s impersonal and transactional. This is especially true when patients are sick or are dealing with a chronic illness that’s hard to understand.

It’s in this area where traditional primary care models can break down. It may be difficult to get an appointment within a few days, for example. Traveling to the provider’s office may bring other challenges related to transportation and further delays in busy, crowded waiting rooms. And all of this may culminate in a short, cursory appointment in which patients spend time repeating information previously shared and not having the time to fully explain their needs or ask clarifying questions. On top of that, most providers are not specialized in the needs of older adults.

As experts on care for people 65+, Patina helps with all of this and more – taking steps to truly see each patient, providing care on their terms, and helping them live their best life.

A welcome convenience

While telehealth visits have been in use for several years now, the COVID-19 pandemic made them a necessity – and much more commonly used. People of all ages are more comfortable now than ever meeting with providers online. This dovetails with Patina’s virtual-first model, which seamlessly blends telemedicine and hands-on care based on what the situation calls for.

Some situations call for an in-person physical exam, but not all care needs to be conducted through these kinds of visits. In-person care requires that providers squeeze as much as possible into an appointment that rarely lasts more than 15 or 20 minutes. At Patina, a lot of care happens in convenient virtual visits, so patients don’t feel they have to ‘save up’ all their symptoms or questions for weeks or months. Instead of infrequent office visits, short video calls allow for plenty of time to check in with a patient and make needed adjustments to the care plan that, along the way, can make a big difference. The model allows for patients to meet with their PCP as often as needed. Not having to travel to a physical office brings the added benefit of saving time and freeing people up to focus on other interests and activities.

A model for one – and all

Older adults in the United States may face a unique set of challenges and circumstances, and not everyone fits into the same mold. The Patina model enables providers and others on the dedicated care team to have meaningful interactions that surface the individual needs of each patient, then addresses them through specific care plans and helps with the associated legwork.

The team treats a broad range of issues from very basic wellness to those that are more clinically complex. For example, many adults over the age of 65 are still very active, whether they’re still working, like to travel, play sports or engage in other physical activities, or simply have a range of hobbies and family commitments that make for a busy day. They may prefer the convenience of on-demand telehealth and a mobile app where they can engage in an online chat – it might be unnecessary or simply disruptive for them to travel to their doctor’s office.

Another example is a person with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, COPD or hypertension, where visiting multiple specialists can feel like a full-time job and the virtual model provides a welcome relief. These patients often require shorter but more frequent check-ins to monitor their health and adjust care plans as needed. A third type of person may prefer staying at home for any number of reasons: mobility challenges, difficulty accessing transportation, or simply wanting to avoid the stress of visiting a crowded doctor’s office and being around people who are ill.

The Patina model accommodates all of these situations and more, providing care on people’s own terms – at their convenience and based on the context of their lives.

Healthcare is complicated. It shouldn’t be, but it is. Fortunately, Patina primary care is reinventing the healthcare experience for people 65 and older, raising the bar to ensure patients are seen – and heard.

Patina currently serves patients in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties – appointments are available now. To learn more about Patina, join one of our virtual info sessions or call our care team at (800) 476-7992. We always love hearing from new people!

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