Fall 2010
PMH STORY by Robert H. Kelly MD FACP
A Premium Medical Home member’s adult daughter became ill with fever, swollen legs and red skin. The daughter had called her doctor’s answering service, but her doctor was not on call. The on call doctor did not return the daughter’s phone call. The daughter was concerned and so were the parents. She was not covered by a health insurance policy.
The Premium Medical Home member called and told Dr. Kelly about their daughter’s health concerns. Dr. Kelly offered to see the patient at 7:00 the next morning in the emergency room, but the family was understandably cost conscious and realized these costs could be avoided by meeting in the office. Because the Premium Medical Home office had reduced the size of the practice to a more optimal level, there was time Friday for the member’s daughter to come to the office for a prompt evaluation.
Dr. Kelly saw the patient and recognized the severity of the condition: the family was right to be concerned. Urgent testing and out-patient x-ray led to the diagnosis. Treatment was effective and the patient learned how this problem might be avoided in the future.
As a Premium Medical Home member, members can call Dr. Kelly regarding an out of town guest or family member who needs medical care. Sometimes healthy younger people lack a physician relationship. Though there is no guarantee that Dr. Kelly will be able to see the out of town guest or family member, as a member, you can count on rapid enhanced access to an expert physician, who will consider the needs and recommend action for the problem you face. This is a real benefit, both to the Premium Medical Home member and also to the member’s friend, guest, or family.
Often Dr. Kelly will be able to visit and temporarily serve as that guest’s doctor. This allows a timely expert opinion in an environment preferred by the guest or family member. This is often all that’s needed and is more convenient and economical than going to the emergency room.
If an out of town guest is with you and needs medical attention, or if a family member without access to a physician has trouble, then as a Premium Medical Home member you know you can call for help. We will visit on the phone and, if prudent and agreeable, then meet with the guest or family member so that their medical needs are met.
INFLUENZA: Time To Get Vaccinated by Allan R. Kelly MD FACP
“The 2009-2010 flu season is over and what an exciting one it was. For the first time in thirty years a serious pandemic H1N1 influenza virus appeared in the United States. It caused much confusion and we feared the worse……”
VITAMIN D, AN IMPORTANT PART OF HEALTH by Robert H. Kelly MD FACP
“Vitamin D is in the news. One recent journal article was titled “Vitamin D: Super Drug”. Claims range from preventing multiple sclerosis, cancer, colon polyps, and dementia to strengthening bones and reducing aches & pains…….”
NOCTURIA (NIGHTTIME TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM) IMPROVES WITH LIFESTYLE CHANGE by Allan R. Kelly MD FACP
“Waking up at night to go to the bathroom is a common adult experience. This problem is called nocturia. For many adults nighttime voiding increases as time goes by. Nocturia can be a sign of illness, such as prostatism or more serious illness, such as infection or cancer……”
Medical Quotes:
The patient should be managed the way the doctor or a member of his family would wish to be treated if he were the patient in the bed at that time.”
– Robert F. Loeb, MD
“There are individuals – doctors and nurses, for example – whose very existence is a constant reminder of our frailties; and considering the notoriously irritating character of such people, I often wonder that the world deals so gently with them.”
– Osler, MD