Dr. Sammy Caraballo Bonilla, Family Physician MCS Provider and Collaborator September 2024
Primary care physicians play an essential role in caring for their patients before, during and after any atmospheric event or national emergency. During peak hurricane season, it’s essential for those who provide primary healthcare services to be well prepared, as the lack of access to drugs and necessary medical services can aggravate chronic conditions.
The increase in the incidence of cases of patients with chronic conditions, as well as the aging of our population and the increase in the frequency and intensity of atmospheric events make it necessary to plan ahead and be structured in a way that promotes continuous care during any situation.
Dr. Maricelly Santiago Ortiz, a researcher in biomedical sciences and chronic diseases, points out that 68% of adults in Puerto Rico have at least one chronic disease, with their caregivers also suffering from chronic conditions as well. Events such as Hurricane María and the COVID-19 pandemic have put into perspective the importance of continuity of care planning. Research published in the American Journal of Public Health indicates that after the impact of Hurricane María on Puerto Rico in 2017, some 1,205 deaths related to this event were estimated, with people over the age of 60 with chronic conditions registering the highest number of deaths.
This highlights the importance of planning for the continuity of care for patients during an emergency. The benefits of this planning result in:
Lower risks of relapses and emergency room visits.
Greater patient empowerment in terms of their health and well-being.
Fewer stressors before, during and after the event
Greater control over patient health status and safety.
Facilitating the recovery process after the event.
A critical part of preparing for this season includes the development or review of the medical office’s response plan. In order to facilitate the identification of the main elements to consider in your response plan, we’ve provided you with a checklist for reference. These are some of the aspects to consider when preparing for this season and ensuring continuity of care for your patients.
Protecting and Securing Your Infrastructure
As part of the response plan, protecting the physical facility, equipment and personnel must be a priority, as the office’s ability to continue providing the healthcare services required by the population will depend on this.
Assign roles to your staff to support you in the preparation and recovery process.
Have a power generator and satellite internet service available to continue providing services (ex. sending prescriptions, telemedicine, and social media use).
Evaluate your medical office’s inventory of equipment and supplies (ex. suture kits, drugs, glucometers).
Keep important physical records and documents related to your patients, employees, and medical office in a safe place (ex. insurance policies).
Effective communication during an emergency is a vital tool for making sound decisions and protecting the community. Make decisions based on notifications and advisories from trusted sources, such as the Puerto Rico Department of Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and other agencies involved in emergency management.
Once the information received has been analyzed, you can disseminate the message through the communication channels you anticipated you would use (both with your team and your patients) to report on the status of the operation. Consider all the communication mechanisms you have available, such as social media, websites, email, text, and phone.
“In my experience, I’ve observed that patients want to hear directly from their doctor regarding any news, guidelines, and instructions on what to do and where to go in case of an emergency. Knowing that I will be available for them at the office and they can trust the information I share, significantly reduces their anxiety. That’s why I use social networks to communicate with them, providing news and updates that come directly from me, and information they can fully trust,” said Dr. Caraballo.
Preparing Your Patients for the Emergency
Doctors have always been a reference when it comes to patients making decisions. Knowing their needs in advance and foreseeing possible complications or situations that put their lives at risk make their roles in their patients’ decisions during an emergency even more relevant. Prepare your patients to take care of their health before, during and after the emergency.
An effective educational process must consider communication strategies, such as simple language, teach-back and the use of open-ended questions that allow patients to explain any doubts they may have regarding their care during the emergency period.
Ensuring Continuity of Care
After the emergency, some of your patients will likely need to be evaluated and require a consultation as soon as possible. Prior planning and a team trained in prioritizing patients according to their risk level and needs will make successful continuity of care possible.
Once you know the status of the patients identified as higher risk, you can determine the consultation modality you’ll use to evaluate them – either at your office or remotely. Make the most of telemedicine services to know the health status of your patients and avoid high traffic in your office. Recognizing the importance of continuity of care, MCS has MCS TeleCare available – a cost-free tool to provide telemedicine services to your MCS Classicare patients that is easily accessible through MCS Provinet.
Planning for effective patient continuity of care during hurricane season or emergency events must be a priority. A medical practice where the clinical and administrative team and patients are prepared to face an emergency can make a difference in the health status of the population during difficult times. Remember to access the checklist to review the aspects to consider as part of your response plan.
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