New Year, New Opportunities
As we look back to the first quarter of 2019 and look forward to the rest of the year, we have already faced numerous dramatic changes and will be having more to come. Staying nimble but persistent in improving and maintaining the health and wellbeing of our patients will be the key to our success.
With our new governor and legislators being enthusiastic about healthcare, we have a great opportunity in California to lead the nation in innovation and progress. As we pursue the ultimate goal of providing healthcare for all, we must take into consideration how to fund and sustain this bold move. I believe that strong primary care led by family physicians is the answer to achieving this reality by providing access to cost-effective care. During our annual lobby day, we had the opportunity to advocate for AB-1622, which is a CAFP sponsored bill to remove barriers for family physicians to provide full spectrum care and improve family medicine presence at the table to help guide the health policies at various levels. Continued efforts to connect with your state and local officials to share the family medicine story is the key to our ongoing success as the specialty that provides the most comprehensive care our patients need. Donation to the FP-PAC will also enhance our opportunity to be present at the table and not be on the menu. Please go to https://familydocs.secure.force.com/pac to give a donation. Our collective future depends on active participation of family physicians serving as the voice for our patients and our colleagues, along with contributing to the decisions being made in this year of new opportunities.
As we contemplate the future of our specialty, it is important to consider the impact of new technology within and outside of the medical field. While improving diagnostic precision and personalized care can revolutionize healthcare, applying technology in a meaningful and cost-effective way is equally important. At the same time, it is crucial to use existing technology and tools in new and innovative ways to improve our ability to take care of our patients. There are numerous opportunities to impact our healthcare system: from using artificial intelligence to bring improved decision-making, to using ride-share apps to bring patients to clinics, and to using video conferencing to bring much needed care to the patient’s home or workplace. Over the past few years, I have experienced using remote monitoring glucometer to help improve diabetic care and using telephone/video for acute or follow-up visits. These enhancements made the clinical encounters easy and accessible to my patients, without the hassle of battling traffic and finding parking. Hearing about many new developments on the horizon brings me hope and excitement for the future of primary care. Having a family medicine voice and active involvement in the planning and implementation of these innovative tools are the keys to ensuring the maintenance of primary care and ensuring personal connection with our patients through improved convenience and quality.
In this new year, I would like to encourage my fellow family physicians to learn about the new opportunities in both health policies and technologies. Through active participation, we can contribute to a better future for our patients and our profession.
