The Priority Care Program was created to help patients and their families understand their new or current medical issues. Patients are referred to the program by their primary care provider, a specialist, or after a hospital admission. Once you have been referred to our program, we will contact you to schedule an appointment. During the first appointment, you will be seen by a program provider and a nurse case manager. If, during the appointment, it is determined that additional services are needed, we have a pharmacist, community resource advisor and/or a hospice nurse to provide additional resources for you and your family. Once enrolled into the program, you will be followed by our providers instead of your primary care provider. You will be seen for appointments in Priority Care more often than you would normally see your primary care provider. We do this to make sure your complex health needs are well monitored and stabilized. You may also be referred to various specialists necessary to treat your medical conditions. Your nurse case manager will follow your care by meeting with you during your Priority Care office visits. The nurse will also call you regularly to check on your wellbeing between appointments. You are provided your nurses phone number upon admission to the program and we encourage you to call the nurse as often as you feel you need to. Your nurse should be your first line of communication when you notice a change in your health. Your nurse is available during regular business hours to answer your questions and help with any health related concerns. If you have a change in your health condition after hours or on the weekend, you can call our 24 hour Nurse hotline. Our goal is to teach you about your medical conditions and medications and how to get the health care that you need. By providing you with case management services we are able to help you gain the highest level of independence. The main goal of Priority Care is for you to understand your disease processes and how to take care of your conditions. We also want you to eventually return to your primary care provider with the tools of how to take care of your medical conditions. Monday-Friday in clinic Chronic/End of life patients
