Welcome back to Urgent Care Unscripted. My name is Barbara Ronalter. I'm the director of operations and business development for AFC Urgent Care, West Haven. And this is Mohamed Saman and in honor of the urgent care in the statement and in the statement No. we're here to talk about an interesting topic, building your own health care team. Is something that you don't maybe think about it all the time until you're in that situation. Who is your team that cares and supports them?
Diagnosis and treats you at the moment? Yeah, I think we get this question a lot. Most people think about their health care team. They really just think about their primary care provider. But obviously, health care team is a lot bigger than that. And today we're going to welcome Felix Pacheco, our medical director. And, also a veteran er, physician veteran makes you sound. So he is all you are, a little old. Me to be here.
And I really have enjoyed, and very proud to have worked with, Doctor Pacheco for, for, for quite a while now because he has helped us shape, give us shape and structure and discipline and the outside for how to build this clinic and build a team here. And so I am really fortunate to have him here to join us. Talk about a patient perspective. I felt like a plastic surgeon in that description. I was going to say, don't let your head get too big there, please. So let's start with the basics.
When we say health care team, what are we really talking about? So if you think about every, piece and individual and the people who surrounded ensuring that they're healthy. Yeah. But, more and more, what we're seeing is that it's not just a place for a quick fix or, you know, a place where you come only when you are sick. I mean, more and more patients want, to stay in touch with us to build a relationship with us before anything unexpected, happens.
And and that and that helps them to get going with their life faster than they could have if they didn't have their business. Definitely. And I think, it touches on a couple of things. Modern day needs and timing of society jobs and being and everything else that goes on. You know, your individual needs and technology has a fit and, primary care is often thought of as the home of the health care home or the individual. Right. But then sometimes you are away from home. Can't get into the home.
It takes too long to get into the home, you know, think about all those reasons and you have to think, okay, well, how can I satisfy these needs that, you know, maybe, the, the urgent and the way you want to be seen. So because you have an illness, you don't feel well, it could be the weekend, you know?
Yeah. Or they're not open or, you know, it's, you know, it's, they don't have space because other people are sick as well, you know, think about, like, flu season now everyone's sick and, primary care providers will be busy then. I mean, everyone's busy then, but, you want to have a team because of the needs that need to be addressed can vary. And if you can't be seen by your primary care doctor, then you have some of those. Yeah, absolutely.
I think from an operational standpoint, I can definitely see a clear difference when patients come to us and connect, not not only come to see us like on a regular basis, not going, not jumping from place to place, but also connects us with their primary care providers and their cardiologists and whatever other specialties they might be seeking, because we are able to build a better assessment for the patient, knowing all that information and also communicate with the partners that we have.
I would I would consider primary care providers, our partners, same thing with specialists. So I think it's very important that you have a home and have a home in primary, but also have a home in urgent care as well. Yeah. And it's not like, we are replacing. No. Yeah. At the same time, we come with the X-ray machine, we come with the GMC, we come with all kinds of tests that we can initiate, and then, that you might not find so easily accessible somewhere else unless you go to an emergency.
But at the same time, we are really doctor visits and, PCP, we're actually partnering with, with your GP to share the information, to send information to them or get the information from them to give you the best treatment you need at the moment when they might not be as much accessible or may not be as much, you know, equipped to handle that particular. Yeah, definitely.
And, I think Barbara touched on that point, the establishment of the relationship, you know, to some degree, like an emergency department. Yeah. Unlikely to have any relationship when you provide a, but in the urgent care setting, you know, we're probably going to be close to where you live, you know, we'll work. And, something that we can see your doctor, that you may have just a few providers that you have become accustomed to, and they get to know you and that changes things.
It changes the dynamics as well. Absolutely. And then I think one other thing that we see a lot is patients don't come to us and they don't have a primary care provider. So that relationship goes both ways where we create a relationship with the patient. And we can also then guide them towards a primary care provider that we believe would be the best fit for them if they haven't been able to find that on their own yet.
And this has eventually, there are many situations where of the 10,000 plus that we have seen in the last just one year, many of them are from patients that are coming to us five times, ten times, 20 times in just one year, because they have built that relationship. Trust us. They have come to like the providers and sometimes they ask for the same provider. But can I come and see that particular provider?
That's so refreshing and comforting to know that they are condition intensive and getting the care they need. And, trying to definitely, I don't have much to add to that. No, I think, that that's that's great. It's a great example there too. And then there's also been situations where we've caught things like for the first time, right. Patients come to us regularly and we end up saying, hey, this is a third night, third time you're being you've been here.
And I notice that your blood pressure is consistently high. So we might need to kind of address that at at some point. So those are things I think even from like a pressed by a provider perspective, you can kind of see that trend. And that's easier. It makes it easier for you to identify those conditions. So yeah, they did. They're definitely like, I can definitely think of young males not having a primary care doctor. Right.
Because who thinks they're going to get hurt or safe when they're like 20 something years old, and then one day they're 50 something or 60 something and the doctor, and then you have these visits where you haven't checked in with anyone. And, you know, things get noticed, you know, I mean, ideally you'd have a health care home, but, you know, we can definitely try to pick things up and hopefully prevent them before it becomes something truly problematic.
Thinking about having a healthcare team, what would be the steps towards that? What can I do? Okay, if I do this, this, this, this, this, then I have a health care team. Perhaps the first step is to have a PCP, really designed for yourself. And then what? And then I would say find an urgent care, because that's probably going to be your second, your second home. I would say. And if you're a woman, you should probably get it. Oh, by and of course, yes.
But in general, it depends on what your individual needs are, your age, your risk factors. But having a primary care, home as well as or you care, you could consider a second home or an apartment. There you go. Your city apartment? Yeah. So have, PCP identified? Have a no. Did you? I and I didn't decide if you have kids, but I also, have a long term basis pediatrician to have that done. And then. And then, come to us for any urgent care needs or even advice and consult the you can treat it.
Or can we then send you back to the city, or for nutrition or maybe an, urgency room situation, but having that relationship established with these entities will keep you covered from the other can respect. Yeah. You know, sometimes, we don't speak about the, mental health needs as well, but, you know, there's therapies that are probably needed. Some providers and patients, like, definitely for providers. I don't.
All right, so next time you need an urgent care or you need an urgent care home, definitely look for something that's conveniently located to you and has good hours. Obviously, we are always available for our saving community or surrounding areas. We are at 354 Sawmill Road in West Haven. And thank you so much for listening today. And thank you for listening to us.
So your health care team that we covered the topic today does not have to be complicated, but as long as they're connected and as long as you have, definition around it and those relationships, you are way to go and take good care of your and your family is done. We appreciate everybody joining and listening. And thanks, Barbara and Felix, for your, advice and kind words and looking forward to the next episode right here with you. Yeah. Thank you.