Why Physicians Champion a Project Access System
By Suzanne Landis, MD, MPH
- All docs already see charity patients. However, since there is no system for providing support services for these patients, the doctor often feels frustrated and views the care provided as being inefficient and ineffective. Labs, x-rays, meds are not available and patients may not come in for regular care since they cannot be compliant with the treatment plans. If the patient needs a referral to another doc, the original doc must take time to personally call and negotiate the referral (somewhat embarrassing for both docs) and taking more time away from seeing patients. In addition, no one but you and your staff and the patients know how much of this you are providing--it is unrecognized and not rewarded. SO WHY NOT SEE CHARITY PATIENTS IN AN EFFICIENT AND REWARDING SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE PATIENTS, THEY CAN GET THE ANCILLARY SERVICES THEY NEED, AND THE CARE YOU PROVIDE IS MEASURED AND REPORTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
- A small effort from many physicians results in huge impact in increasing access to health care. There are significant ripple effects so that primary care sites can double their capacity when patients have access to specialists in timely fashion, can get labs x-rays and meds that are needed.
- If all docs participate a little bit then no one doctor is overwhelmed.
- Doctors' standing in the local community improves as the general population recognizes that doctors are leaders in local solutions to improve health care access crisis. This is not an insignificant issue. As health care costs rise, physicians who lead their communities in Project Access efforts are viewed more as caring professionals, rather than as businessmen who care more for money than service.
- When doctors work with other groups in the community to design Project Access-like programs the "abundance" of resources and assets are identified and can be used not only for PA programs but to help solve other issues, such as improving mental health services or dental services.
- Physicians who participate in PA-like programs can set the standard for community service for other professionals, such as dentists who might then be encouraged to provide more pro bono work.
- It is the right thing to do. We all went into medicine to take care of patients. Project Access allows us to do that and blend it in with our usual work in the office and hospital.
To learn more about how PIN can help you identify, recruit, support and nurture physician champions in your community, contact us.