Doctors play a critical role in a community’s health and well being. Open and smooth communication is vital between the doctor and the patient to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. Unfortunately, doctors are often caught up in their harrowing schedules and do not get sufficient time to interact with their patients or give them all the required advice. Doctors who utilize medical transcription services to take care of the healthcare documentation could save valuable time that they can spend with their patients. Poor doctor-patient relationship is one major reason for lower quality patient health. Another reason is that Americans are not getting the preventive care that they should get. This is because of inadequate access to care and financial barriers that keep people away from the doctor. People should be made aware of the various healthcare options available and how to access them properly. Primary care doctors can provide the necessary advice to patients coming to them, and encourage them to spread the word about the importance of preventive care for the best health outcomes.

Dr. Alex Krist, a professor of family medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University and vice chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that a patient’s exact medical needs vary depending on his/her age, lifestyle, behaviour etc. Based on these variations there are four types of preventive medicine that could help every American live their best, longest life.

• Immunizations: Getting the right vaccines is an excellent way to avoid contracting and spreading disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a detailed list of vaccines people should take from childbirth till adulthood. Most of the Americans are given flu shots during childhood that last for life. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which was recently approved for adults as well as teenagers, can also help prevent cervical cancer, potentially prolonging your life.
• Screenings: This is an important but complicated preventive care measure because each person has a different health condition. Krist says that science is evolving continuously and healthcare professionals are learning Although USPSTF does not offer a specific recommendation on annual physicals or wellness visits, it is ideal to regularly visit a primary care provider or family medicine physician, who can assess your specific risk profile and run the appropriate tests or refer you to specialists who can. Primary care is really the specialty of preventive care. Most of the adults are screened for high BP, depression, sexually transmitted infections, skin cancer and substance misuse. All Americans are not up to date with their recommended screening. USPSTF recommends screenings every three or five years for women to identify conditions like cervical cancer.
• Guidance for preventive medications: A doctor recommends medicine based on the patient’s specific health profile. This helps the patient to prevent chronic diseases. For instance, doctors advise Americans to take an aspirin daily to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Research in this regard is only evolving and the recommendation to consume aspirin will be made only after examining the patient in detail.
• Counselling: Patients who suffer from anxiety, depression or any other mental disturbances should see a professional. Counselling is not just therapy, it means sharing and talking to your primary care doctor about your lifestyle, behaviour, overall health, and longevity. Counselling gradually brings back the patient to a routine lifestyle and brings down health risks such as obesity, depression, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and premature death.

As a medical transcription services company, we understand that primary care physicians can contribute a lot towards improving patients’ health by providing their patients with the right recommendations and advice. They can talk to them about the various preventive measures to take such as those mentioned above to avoid diseases and stay healthy.