Industry Research: Five Essential Primary Care Visits Employees Shouldn’t Delay

Having a relationship with a primary care provider that employees trust can lead to better health outcomes

In the past year, coronavirus has not only disrupted our routines and lifestyles, but has also reminded us how important it is to be proactive in protecting the health of ourselves, our loved ones, and our workplaces. While many employees postponed or skipped medical appointments for non-urgent needs, prioritizing preventive health is essential to improve health outcomes.

Data shows that those who have become most critically ill from Covid-19 are those with pre-existing conditions, many of which can be addressed through primary care, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, or diabetes. In fact, as of July 1, 2021, the CDC study found that the highest risk of severe Covid-19 illness was associated with obesity, anxiety and fear-related disorders, diabetes with complications, chronic kidney disease, and neurocognitive disorders.
 

By addressing health concerns through an advanced primary care-focused employee benefits strategy and proactive care with a primary care provider (PCP), employees have a foundational partner to help them get the best care possible and improve outcomes during this peri-pandemic period.

Everyday health is more important than ever and will remain crucial in keeping employees and their families healthy and preventing similar public health crises in the future. Here are five primary care visits that shouldn’t be delayed:

1. Annual Wellness Checks

Studies show that a consistent patient-primary care provider relationship is critical to positive health outcomes. At One Medical, we’ve designed our Live Well visits (our version of an annual physical) as a meaningful time for members to connect with their PCPs and establish health goals that they will track together. One Medical members can receive a survey prior to their visit to share insights on their medical history, behaviors, and health concerns, which will help their providers prepare an agenda for the visit. The visit then serves as an opportunity for our primary care providers to address health concerns, recommended preventive services/screening, and further the patient-primary care provider relationship that allow us to understand our members’ health on a deeper level. After the visit, members can receive digital action items that help them stay on track throughout the year.

2. Mental & Behavioral Health Care

According to our recent study on deferred care, 49% of employees reported that their mental health was negatively impacted as an outcome of care avoidance due to Covid-19.

At One Medical, we’ve seen this first hand, with several members sharing their experience with anxiety and depression, often triggered by financial stress, fear of illness, and feelings of isolation due to Covid-19. While these stressors may be circumstantial, it’s important that people address them in order to prevent lasting effects on their mental and behavioral health.

One Medical providers are trained to care for the whole person, inclusive of both mental and physical health, and can address these concerns through an in-person or remote visit. We have also rolled out stress coaching services in many cities.

3. Cancer Screenings

Cancer can be scary. While it may feel like it can come out of nowhere, certain risk factors can help predict which type of cancer screening you can benefit from and when to start. That’s where your primary care provider comes in. Our primary care providers get to know our members’ personal and family health history to help create an individualized screening plan tailored to their unique needs. Cervical cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer are a few of the cancer screenings our primary care providers can perform or order based on a member’s age and other risk factors. There can never be a catch-all guide to cancer screening as everyone’s health is unique. Race/ethnicity, family history, body type, lifestyle, and environmental exposures are just some of the unique factors that a primary care provider will consider when making an individualized cancer screening plan.

4. Vaccinations

Vaccines are one of the most potent public health tools against a variety of diseases across the lifespan. From measles to flu, science has shown the tremendous benefits of well-vaccinated populations. Keeping up with a routine vaccination schedule continues to be as important as ever in avoiding outbreaks of preventable diseases. Immunizations for the flu, human papillomavirus (HPV), tetanus, shingles, and more are all important in protecting one’s health and preventing the spread of disease. After establishing a proactive care plan with a One Medical provider, patients can receive active items via the One Medical app when due for a vaccination.

With flu season beginning as early as October, experts recommend that everyone over the age of six months get a flu vaccination as early as September. The flu vaccine is helpful in both reducing the number of flu cases, and reducing the severity of illness if someone does catch the flu, helping to keep hospitals and emergency rooms from becoming overwhelmed as flu season overlaps with new Covid-19 variants.

5. Chronic Illness Management

According to the CDC, 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic health condition, and 4 in 10 have two or more. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $3.8 trillion in annual health care costs.

Chronic conditions can make it harder for the immune system to form a response to viruses like Covid-19, making a person susceptible to severe illness if the condition is not properly managed. From diagnosing to monitoring and prescribing medications as needed, a PCP can provide important lifestyle guidance based on unique needs. Even those who are generally considered “healthy” can benefit from having a relationship with a primary care provider to help prevent the onset of conditions that may run in their family, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

Having a relationship with a primary care provider that you trust can lead to better health outcomes. Now more than ever, the ability to easily connect with a PCP that knows and cares about your health is invaluable in navigating the complexities of continuously evolving health guidance and public safety measures.

Michael Richardson, MD, is a patient-facing Family Medicine Physician at One Medical in Boston. He also serves as the national primary care practice’s Medical Marketing Strategist and Clinical Blog Editor. As a leader of the company’s Health Equity Domain Working Group, he works to identify and correct unconscious bias within the organization to ensure it is meeting the needs of people from all backgrounds. He also serves as faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Faculty Affiliate of the Boston University for Antiracist Research. Visit www.onemedical.com Connect Michael Richardson Follow @MRichardsonMD