Consider changing the order of referrals to specialists – Family doctor should be consulted first



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“The path of the patient is developing so that the patient knows where to turn, who is responsible for their health. (…) The remission is not the remission of a patient to seek happiness, but the remission is the consultation of a doctor with a doctor. Historically, it happened that the patient received a paper referral and went somewhere to find a specialist.

The first step is for the GP to consult a specialist doctor, and if the specialist says that all the steps that have been taken from the available data have already been carried out, then send it now. (…) Sometimes it is not necessary for a patient to go to a specialist, the family doctor, having all the health data on health, can consult a specialist remotely and at the same time make the best decision on whether or not he needs contact advice. , ”- Žinių radijo. Open conversation, ”explained Odeta Vitkūnienė, Director of SAM’s Department of Personal Health.

According to a SAM representative, remote services were legalized last year.

“This year, however, e-health functionalities are being improved so that GPs can take advantage of that opportunity. All aspects of digitization are being developed,” said O. Vitkūnienė.

Veryga: part of the work must be unloaded from the doctor

The former Minister of Health, deputy of the opposition Grupo Verde Campesino, Aurelius Veryga, agreed that such decisions would increase the workload of the GP.

“Those tools are designed for the convenience of the patient, not the family doctor. The family doctor will have to do additional work, ”said A. Veryga.

According to him, if we want the family doctor to do something else, we have to agree on what work he is doing now, he will not do it. According to the politician, for example, nurses could extend medication or perform medical check-ups.

The former minister also spoke about the possibilities of telemedicine when talking about the possibility of consulting doctors.

“The so-called extended consultations have already started, but are not sufficiently developed. (…) A private clinic still boasts that” we diagnose during the day and prescribe the treatment. “It is an extended consultation, in which the person meets and it is examined, what is needed is done, a diagnosis is made and treatment is given. You don’t drive for a few weeks or months, and you pay more for it. The health insurance funds already have this mechanism, you just need to work on it. ” said A. Veryga.

The politician also suggests following the example of Sweden and establishing a single center where one person can call and consult on simple problems.

“In Lithuania, we had planned, I hope, not to lose, to make such a center on the basis of the call center from 1808, where people could consult if it is something simple. In Sweden, this is about 30%. download, ”said A. Veryga.

He says the GP should take care of 80 percent. problems

Julius Kalibatas, director of the Association of Family Physicians, said that the most important thing was to perfect the work of a family physician. I would agree that some of the work they are doing now should be delegated to other members of the system staff.

“The job of a family doctor is to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. (…) The family doctor should decide 80 percent. problems. Unfortunately, the reality is different, I think that the work of a family doctor is being reduced somewhere, and really unnecessarily ”, said J. Kalibatas.

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