Morning: Improving Healthcare Coverage
Afternoon: Extended Office Consultations
Back at the office, Dr. Grajcar joins two other providers. The three of them are expecting to see 35 patients over the course of the work day. In order to provide more holistic and comprehensive care for their patients, the clinic decided two years ago to lengthen their visits to 30-45 minutes. They’ve never regretted the decision.
At lunch, the providers meet to discuss how to direct their referrals to more cost-effective specialists when surgery is needed. Many of those procedures are performed at Treasure Valley Hospital, and the team hopes to develop better ways to put their patients in touch with quality care.
Later in the afternoon, one of Dr. Grajcar’s visits is done over the phone. He has a patient who is following up on his blood pressure medication. This type of consultation has proven to be a convenient scheduling solution for 15-20% of their family medicine visits, and ultimately saves an enormous amount of time for patients.
Evening: Continuing Care for Patients
That evening, Dr. Grajcar gets caught up on his emails for the day. He also answers a text from a direct care patient who just fell and injured his wrist. A photo of the patient’s wrist is sent through the Hale Health app. After a quick discussion, they decide that the patient can avoid an urgent care visit. He just needs ice and Advil with a little tincture of time. He will check in with Dr. Grajcar again in the morning through the Hale app.
It’s been a busy day, but that’s part of what makes the work so rewarding. There are always new challenges for a direct care physician. Of course, there are still a few constants for Dr. Grajcar and our team at Assured Direct Care. We always put patients first, and we’re passionate about helping everyone we can.
