Maintaining continuity of care is an integral component of good health, helping you reduce the likelihood of missing a follow-up appointment or getting misdiagnosed.
HealthTap provides a personalized experience that leverages AI and doctor-trained systems along with tech tools to save time and money. This end-to-end solution has served employers, insurance companies, and health systems with industry-leading results.
The Benefits of Continuity of Care
According to a review of 22 studies from around the world, Continuity of care can help patients maintain their health, increase medication adherence and minimize hospital use. It also enhances patient satisfaction with their medical experience.
Patients who visit the same doctor frequently can benefit from improved consistency in their care, which has been linked to lower mortality rates. Furthermore, continuity of care allows doctors and other healthcare providers to better comprehend patient needs and how best to meet them.
One important way to ensure continuity in healthcare is informational continuity — the capacity for sharing data across healthcare settings and systems. Electronic medical records (EMRs) play a significant role here as they provide detailed accounts of each patient’s history and condition.
Keeping Your Medical Records Up-to-Date
Maintaining your medical records is an excellent way to make sure you and your loved ones are informed about any changes in your health status. It may also assist with managing health insurance claims and taxes.
Many companies now provide online records that are easily accessed, so it’s wise to take advantage of this resource. Furthermore, filing all paperwork in an organized fashion after each appointment, prescription, bill or test you receive is recommended for maximum efficiency and productivity.
HealthTap provides two primary services: a symptom checker and anonymous question submission platform. Both are free-of-charge, accessible from both their app or website. Members can search millions of questions answered by real doctors and ask their own anonymous inquiries for free responses.
Having a Trusted Relationship with Your Providers
When it comes to patient-provider relationships, patient trust is paramount. Studies have indicated that patients who feel trusted by their providers tend to receive better healthcare overall.
One way to foster a trusting relationship with your provider is by being open about your medical condition. Doing this will enable you to make informed decisions regarding your health care and treatment options.
For instance, if you have cancer, it is essential that you disclose all relevant information about the condition so that you can make informed decisions about treatment and care.
If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, it is essential to find a mental health expert who can guide your recovery. Talkspace therapists are available to take over where your primary care doctor leaves off and offer ongoing support for all of your mental and behavioral health celebritylifecycle requirements.
Having Access to Your Medical Records
Access to your medical records is essential for maintaining continuity of care. Beginning October 1st, providers must make all records digitally available free of charge upon request.
Your records contain your medical history, bills, claims, prescriptions, lab results and appointment histories. They also include notes about your family’s medical history including any operations or procedures performed, involvement in research projects or other details shared with providers.
HealthTap’s mission is to put primary care doctors in everyone’s hands. It has worked diligently to build an ecosystem of physicians who treat each patient like a unique, living human being.
This means each virtual patient has a personalized panel of doctors they can select for their appointments and build trust with over time. Furthermore, these physicians offer guidance through both synchronous and real-time video consults.