(HealthNewsDigest.com) – As the main source of medical treatment for patients, primary care physicians (PCPs) can help to change the ever-growing troubles with substance abuse and addiction. Though most don’t have the specialized training and education needed to treat addiction, their position as the “point person” for their patient’s medical needs, gives them an advantage that many other medical experts don’t have.
You’ve Got the Upper Hand. Medical experts in specialized fields like oncology, internal medicine, mental health, and more, don’t have the privilege of knowing the patients they’re treating. Since most patients are referred on a situational basis, there really isn’t enough time to get to know them on a personal level.
PCPs, on the other hand, have spent years with the same patients. They know everything there is to know about their health and in some cases, the personal lives of their patients. This personal connection between primary doctors and their patients make it easier for doctors to not only spot that something is wrong, but gives them the conversational tools they need to convince their patients to get help from rehab centers like those found at windwardway.com.
A Firm Yet Sensitive Approach. Unfortunately, even with this upper hand of a personal connection, many primary doctors are failing their patients. They are not actively speaking out about what they’re seeing and how their patients can get help. There are a few reasons for this, but the top issues are lack of training on treatment and the inability to effectively communicate with their patients. Talking about addiction is a sensitive subject-matter, but it is your sworn duty as a medical professional to recognize the signs and advice on the best care options. Taking a firm stance on how addiction can harm them but being sensitive to their issues and hearing their concerns is of the utmost importance.
Ways to Do More. If you realize a patient is struggling with addiction or substance abuse, it is not enough to recommend they grab a pamphlet about drugs and alcohol on the way out. It is imperative that you use your advantage of having a deeper connection with your patients to guide them towards treatment and recovery for addiction. Below, is some advice on how to do more to help your patients.
Pay Attention. As a PCP your time is limited between patients, so it is imperative to make those few minutes count. If they’re in your office for treatment, but you notice something isn’t right about their appearance, health, or behavior, take a few minutes to just talk to them. Find out how things have been. Are they particularly stressed? Do they seem depressed or anxious? Did they just go through something traumatic? These are all triggers for addiction and should be noted if you believe it’s a factor in your patient’s health. When asking questions and trying to draw closer to the subject of addiction make sure that you do so with compassion.
Know Sources for Help. Here’s what most PCPs already know, not every patient is going to take the traditional route towards improving their health. When it comes to treating their addiction, the same thing applies. Not every person will want to visit a rehab and others will frown upon the idea of attending group therapies. Therefore, you should already have an arsenal of resources for your patients to choose what works best for them. Talk about various therapies and rehab facilities, some pros and cons, and what to expect with each method used, then give them the freedom to make their own decision.
Stop Prescribing Addictive Medications. Whether your patient is struggling with alcohol or opioid addiction, you don’t want to prescribe anything that could cause their health to get worse. This means steering clear of powerful prescription drugs that patients commonly abuse. If someone you’re treating just went through a serious surgery, for example, and needs painkillers to cope with the pain, you may want to recommend over the counter drugs and refer them to physical therapy to improve mobility and ease the pain.
Follow-Up on Their Progress. A PCP’s job isn’t done once their patients who are struggling with addiction admit to their troubles and enter rehab (or some other form of treatment). Your patient’s overall physical and mental health is your responsibility. As addiction can do damage to a person’s body, scheduling appointments to check on their health is advised. Not only does it allow you to monitor the progress of your patient’s efforts and determine whether the avenue they chose for treatment is working, but it shows your patients that you too care about their recovery which can motivate them to move forward. Too much communication can sometimes be a bad thing and put stress on the patient or even cause situations with family law stemming from patient confidentiality so make sure you are keeping a polite distance with your follow ups.
Primary care physicians have an important role in the lives of their patients. They also took an oath to care for their physical and mental well-being to the best of their abilities. If you have patients that are struggling with addiction, it is your obligation to do everything in your power to help them to recover and remain sober. Though you may not be trained on the specifics, you can use your advantage of having a personal connection with the people you treat to provide support and motivate them to take the first steps in healing from addiction.
