As changes in health care needs are being addressed by health care providers, consideration must be given to new and effective ways of expanding ambulatory care.
Legislators are discussing the use of direct primary care (DPC), or retainer practices, to improve care and reduce health costs. DPC is a public sector-funded primary care model that has grown rapidly over the last decade, and is an alternative to the fee for service, third-party billing model. Individuals or organizations pay for their health needs outside of insurance by paying a monthly fee (much like a gym membership) directly to the physician, covering all or most primary care services. Patients receive comprehensive care management including clinical, laboratory, consulting, and care coordination services. When combined with a wraparound high deductible catastrophic health insurance policy for emergencies and hospitalization, supporters of DPC believe patients receive highly personalized, whole body, and mind care at a lower cost. This may be one step toward an overall better health care system. However, the model is too new for detailed national studies to determine its effectiveness in delivering cost effective, quality care.
What is the next step for ambulatory health care? We are seeing ambulatory care becoming even more personalized through the use of technology and research. With the growing emphasis on wellness, prevention, and education on lifestyle-related health issues, health care has been brought not only to ambulatory settings, but also to the home and the workplace.
As changes in health care needs are being addressed by health care providers, consideration must be given to new and effective ways of expanding ambulatory care. The buildings and the environments within those buildings will need to meet different demands and sustainable designs for accessibility, flexibility, portability, healthy lifestyles, and patient comfort. Moreover, the patient should be at the center of this consideration. In today’s health care environment, there are many issues that need to be considered to support health and wellness, and change continues whether we like it or not.
