Premise Health’s VP of Clinical Strategy Talks About Whole Person Care with Medical Economics
McManama points to a Centers for Disease Control publication last year that states in 2020 the life expectancy for the United States population had fallen the sharpest since World War II. McManama underscores events of the COVID-19 pandemic as a root cause of the issue, citing medical misinformation causing fear and skepticism, delays in healthcare appointments, and the direct toll of the pandemic.
The solution? Implementing whole-person care in medical practice. When caring for patients, “whole-person care reduces disparities in care and outcomes by accounting for the unique needs, experiences, strengths, and challenges of each person,” according to McManama.
She explains that there are simple, procedural steps a practice or physician can take to achieve whole-person care. For example, ask more open-ended questions regarding a patient’s personal history like employment or living circumstances, learn more about personal habits regarding nutrition, sleep and lifestyle, and keep in contact with patients after their scheduled visit by following up with them if a referral was made or a medication prescribed.
“Building trust between a provider and patient doesn’t always happen in one visit. It can take time and effort on both sides to create a successful partnership,” writes McManama. In the long term, McManama argues that patients will experience better outcomes and experiences if whole-person care becomes the normal approach to proactive healthcare.
Connected Care+, which includes care navigation and care management, is one of the many ways in which Premise works to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities. It leverages powerful data-driven insights to support members and guide them to comprehensive, high-value specialty care.
Read the article here and learn more about McManama’s suggested approach to whole-person health.