Senior Healthcare, Made Simpler

PIH Health Advanced Primary Care Team Improves Visibility and Coordination

Michael Ashe

In early 2021, Michael was hospitalized at PIH Health Whittier Hospital several times over the span of four months. He was hospitalized for vascular surgery, colon surgery and complications from other health issues.

When an older patient has multiple health concerns, coordination of care becomes paramount. Without it, different specialists are each managing individual issues—and it can be a challenge for the patient to keep up with their various appointments and medications.

Michael Ashe, a 72-year-old Whittier resident, can relate.

In early 2021, Michael was hospitalized at PIH Health Whittier Hospital several times over the span of four months. He was hospitalized for vascular surgery, colon surgery and complications from other health issues. Each time, he was working with different doctors and teams, and had to manage a number of different follow-up plans.

It was while waiting for a toe amputation after he stepped on a nail that Michael met Albert Bui MD, a PIH Health gerontologist and head of the PIH Health Advanced Primary Care (APC) team, who stepped in to provide full coordination of Michael’s numerous healthcare needs.

“Advanced Primary Care is an elevated standard of primary care that focuses on improving quality of life and better patient outcomes,” explained Dr. Bui. “In the APC model, we allocate sufficient patient-physician time to treat the whole patient. We also work closely with other healthcare providers, such as specialists, behavioral health, physical therapy, lab and x-ray to manage and schedule follow-up care as needed. This comprehensive coordination helps to increase patient convenience and overall satisfaction.”

This coordination can prevent gaps in communication and treatment which is especially important for the Medicare population who often live with multiple chronic conditions. It also helps patients avoid unnecessary care and can create personalized plans based on each patient’s unique needs, such as extended office visits, same-day appointments, care manager guidance, monitoring and tracking, and phone check-ups, as needed.

Patients can get the care they need in a setting that’s right for them. Depending on the reason or frequency of their visits, appointments can take place in an office setting or virtually via telemedicine in the comfort of their homes.

For more information on Advanced Primary Care and other senior care services, visit PIHHealth.org/SeniorHealth.