It's all about you, care about you is the most important job of your Patient Centered Medical Home. In this personal model of health care, your primary provider at FHFHA leads the team of health care professionals that collectively take responsibility for your care. They make sure you get the care you need in wellness and illness to heal your body, mind, and spirit.
Your team may include a doctor, physician's assistant, licensed practice nurse, medical assistant, or health educator, as well as other health professionals. These professionals work together to help you get healthy, stay healthy, and get the care and services that are right for you. When needed, your personal doctor arranges for appropriate care with qualified specialists.
• We want to get to know you, your family, your life situation, and preferences to suggest treatments that make sense for you.
• We want to treat you as a full partner in your care.
• We want to to communicate effectively with you.
• We want to give you time to ask questions and we want to answer them in a way you understand.
• We want to make sure you know and understand all of your options for care.
• We want to help you decide what care is best for you. Sometimes more care is not better care.
• We want to ask you for feedback about your care experience.
• We want to make sure you develop a clear idea of how to care for yourself.
• We want to help you set goals for your care and help you meet your goals on step at a time.
• We want to give you information about classes, support groups, or other types of services to help you learn more about your condition and stay healthy.
• We want to encourage you to fully participate in recommended preventive screenings and services
• Some drugs are prescribed to be taken for a short time, some for a longer term. Make sure you know whether or not your prescription should be refilled. If you have any questions, speak to your PCMH Team.
• Please request all prescription refills Monday to Friday, be calling your pharmacy first, your pharmacy will send your refill request to the doctor for approval. If you have run out of refills for your medication, please ask for a refill a few days before you run out. It normally takes 24 to 48 business hours for you pharmacy to complete the request for the doctor's approval. Please do not request refills after hours, on weekends or holidays.
• If you are on daily medication for chronic conditions, you need to see your doctor every four months. If you have not seen your doctor for more than six months and you need a refill on your medicaiton, please make an appointment for an office visit.
Controlled substance prescription medications are medicines that require a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license to be dispensed. By law, and for your safety, we must follow special procedures for refills:
• Refills for controlled substance medicine can only be completed during office hours and only by the doctor who ordered the medicine.
• We cannot call in a refill to your pharmacy for a Controlled Substance Medication.
• We cannot order a refill if you run out early or lose the prescription.
• We cannot order a refill before it is due, even if it is an emergency.
• Actively participate in your care, you are the most important member of the medical home team.
• Understand that you are a full partner in your own health care.
• Learn about your condition and what you can do to stay as healthy as possible.
• As best you can, follow the care plan that you and your medical team have agreed is important for your health.
• Choose on of our Providers as your Primary Care Physician and the "quarterback" of your care.
One of the goals of a PCMH is for the patient to have a more active patient involvement in their care. Following these simple instructions when coming to your next appointment can help strengthen the patient-doctor relationship.
• Write down all of your questions before you come to your appointment and bring them with you.
• Don't be afraid to speak to your doctor about all of your concerns, even the sensitive ones.
• Bring a list of all the medications you are taking, surgeries with dates, along with the names of any other doctors you are being treated by, including behavioral health providers.
• Let your doctor know of any diagnostic tests you have had, ie. Colonscopy, Mammography, etc. Please supply the name of the facility and the exact date the test were done.
• Speak the truth- Tell your doctor about the foods you eat, how much exercise your getting, if you smoke, drink alcohol or take un-prescribed medications, including illegal drugs.
• Always contact your PCMH before proceeding to the Emergency Room. If it's after hours, call the main number, 973-483-3640, and the answering service will contact the covering physician.