Patient/physician Partnership in Asthma
- Saturday, September 12, 2009, 23:15
- Asthma
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“Whether we’re talking about asthma, hypertension, or diabetes, the partnership between the patient and the physician is very important.”
- Dr. Nathan:
- Let me talk about this partnership between the patient and the physician. This is at the crux of contained care with any chronic condition. Whether we’re talking about asthma, hypertension, or diabetes, that partnership is very important. The physician’s responsibility is to educate patients about their disease, about the management approach, about the benefits versus the side effects of their medication, and about what their expectations should be. The patients’ responsibility is to make certain they understand their disease and to be honest with the physician about how well they’re doing. They need to keep the scheduled follow-up appointments.
Frequent visits to the doctor are better than infrequent visits. I don’t think patients have to come in every month. If asthmatics are well controlled, every six months is probably appropriate. If they’re not well controlled, then simply calling the doctor to tell us their symptoms and relate to us their peak flows, if they can, can help us to make adjustments in their medications. With somebody who is under good control, being seen every three months is probably worthwhile.
Relationship is critical, and it works both ways. Both the physician and the patient have to do their part.
- Andrew:
- The gold ring is not only avoiding serious complications of asthma but also leading a full life.
- Dr. Nathan:
- Yes. Patients have to appreciate the fact that their life should be normal. The only thing they have to do that’s different from other people is to take some medication. We’ve got great medications. We’ve got great options. We should be able to find the right medication, one that the patient can comply with.
- Andrew:
- Dr. Robert Nathan, from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and private practice in Colorado Springs. Thank you so much for your time and expertise and being on our Asthma Education Network.
- Dr. Nathan:
- Thank you.
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