By: Dale Gold MD
In the age of digital health, we can access medical information and advice with a few clicks on our phones. From symptom checkers to virtual consultations, technology has made healthcare more convenient and accessible than ever before. But as we embrace the digital health revolution, we must also acknowledge its impact on primary care doctors.
The shift towards digital convenience care is leading to a plucking of easy one-issue visits from primary care doctors, leaving them with a heavier load of complicated cases that require more time and resources. This shift has significant implications for the healthcare industry, as primary care doctors play a critical role in managing chronic conditions, providing preventive care, and addressing mental health concerns.
Will we see a future where you now require a unique digital care app for each medicine you are on? How many subscriptions and digital apps will be needed to equal one (potentially extinct) primary care doctor?
However, we can enable digital care in a way that benefits both patients and primary care doctors. By embracing a hybrid model of care, we can use technology to augment the care provided by primary care doctors, rather than replacing it. For instance, primary care doctors can offer virtual consultations and follow-ups to their patients, reducing the need for in-person visits and making healthcare more convenient for patients. Additionally, primary care doctors can leverage digital tools to better manage chronic conditions, such as remote monitoring devices and health apps.
Furthermore, primary care doctors can financially benefit from the digital convenience care model by adopting value-based care models. In value-based care, doctors are incentivized to provide high-quality care that improves patient outcomes, rather than being paid based on the number of visits or procedures. By adopting value-based care models, primary care doctors can benefit from the increased efficiency and convenience of digital care while still providing personalized and comprehensive care to their patients.
In conclusion, as we continue to embrace the digital health revolution, we must also consider the potential fragmentation of care. Will we see a future where you now require a unique digital care app for each medicine you are on? How many subscriptions and digital apps will be needed to equal one (potentially extinct) primary care doctor? I feel strongly that technology can offer convenience and accessibility, but it cannot replace the value of a strong patient-doctor relationship and comprehensive, personalized care. We must find a way to balance the benefits of digital health with the importance of continuity and coordination of care and protect the endangered pcp.
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