A person who suffers from psychosis experiences hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior. There are several factors that can trigger psychosis, including stress, trauma, substance abuse, and underlying medical conditions. Symptoms of psychosis include difficulties in daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life.
In traditional health care, managing psychosis can be challenging. People with psychosis often face obstacles to accessing timely and appropriate care, such as long wait times, high costs, and stigma. Additionally, multiple providers who do not communicate well with each other may provide fragmented and impersonal care.
Fortunately, there is an alternative way to deliver health care that can better meet the needs of people with psychosis: direct primary care (DPC). As a health care model, DPC eliminates the middlemen, such as insurance companies and administrators, and allows patients to interact directly and personally with their primary care doctor. As part of DPC, patients pay a monthly or annual fee to their physician, who provides them with preventative, chronic, acute, and behavioral health care.
DPC can offer several benefits for people with psychosis, such as:
A DPC physician is more accessible and responsive to patients than a traditional physician. They provide same-day or next-day appointments, extended visits, home visits, and 24/7 access by phone, text, email, or video. The result is that people with psychosis will not have to wait weeks or months or visit an emergency room to obtain the care they need.
A flat fee covers most of the services provided by DPC physicians, such as physical exams, lab tests, prescriptions, and referrals. In addition to imaging, specialty care, and hospitalization, they also offer transparent and discounted prices. Therefore, people with psychosis can save money on health care expenses, especially if their deductibles, copays, or coinsurance are high. Additionally, they can avoid surprise bills or hidden fees in the traditional system.
Having fewer patients than traditional physicians allows DPC physicians to devote more time and attention to each patient. The doctors also have more flexibility and autonomy to tailor their care to each patient's specific needs. In this way, people with psychosis can receive holistic and personalized care that addresses not only their physical well-being, but also their mental, emotional, and social well-being.
From prevention to treatment, DPC physicians follow their patients throughout their health journey, providing continuous and coordinated care. To ensure that their patients receive the best possible care, they collaborate and communicate with other providers, such as specialists, therapists, or case managers. Having a consistent and reliable source of care helps people with psychosis manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
DPC can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of people with psychosis, such as:
DPC reduces the severity and frequency of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia, in people with psychosis. People with psychosis can avoid or minimize triggers and stressors that can worsen their condition by receiving timely and appropriate care from DPC. People with psychosis can adhere to their treatment plans and monitor their progress with DPC's comprehensive and continuous care. DPC can help people with psychosis address the underlying causes and factors that contribute to their condition, such as trauma, substance abuse, or medical conditions.
Enhanced functioning: DPC can improve the functioning of a person with psychosis, whether they are at work, school, or at home. By providing accessible and affordable care, DPC can help people with psychosis avoid disruptions and burdens that the traditional system can impose on their lives, such as missed appointments, delayed treatments, or financial hardships. DPC can help people with psychosis cope with their challenges by providing personalized and holistic care, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and self-care strategies.
People with psychosis can increase their satisfaction with their health care and quality of life by utilizing DPC. In addition to providing accessible, responsive care, DPC can help people with psychosis feel valued and respected by their physician, who listens to them, understands them, and supports them. By providing affordable and transparent care, DPC can help people with psychosis feel more empowered and in control of their health care decisions, knowing what they're paying for and receiving. A partner who cares about you and your goals can help people with psychosis feel more hopeful and optimistic about their health and their future with DPC's personalized and holistic care.
DPC can offer a personalized and comprehensive approach to managing psychosis, which may include:
A detailed medical history, a physical examination, and a mental status examination can be used to diagnose psychosis by DPC physicians. To exclude any other possible causes of psychosis, like infections, tumors, or metabolic disorders, they can also order and interpret blood tests, urine tests, and brain scans.
In addition to antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants, DPC physicians can prescribe and manage appropriate medications to treat psychosis. To help people with psychosis deal with their symptoms and address their emotional and social issues, they can also provide or refer to other forms of treatment, including psychotherapy, counseling, and support groups. To improve the functioning and well-being of people with psychosis, they can also provide or refer to other services, such as vocational rehabilitation, housing assistance, or crisis intervention.
Through regular follow-ups, check-ups, and feedback, DPC physicians can monitor the effectiveness and safety of psychosis treatment. In addition to monitoring medication side effects and interactions, and managing any complications or emergencies that may arise, they can adjust the treatment as needed, based on the patient's response and preferences.
Educating people with psychosis and their families about their condition, treatment, and prognosis is one of the best things DPC physicians can do. Furthermore, they can provide them with books, websites, and apps that can assist them in understanding and managing their condition. They can also answer any questions or concerns that they may have, as well as address any myths or misconceptions they may come across.
Patients with psychosis can be helped prevent or reduce the risk of relapse by identifying and avoiding triggers and stressors that can trigger or worsen psychosis, including substance abuse, sleep deprivation, and social isolation. Additionally, they can assist them in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes adopting and practicing healthy habits, such as eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping enough, and relaxing frequently. Additionally, they can connect them with people who can provide them with emotional, practical, or professional support, such as family, friends, peers, or mentors, in order to build and maintain a strong support network.
In psychosis, reality can appear distorted and frightening, but it doesn't have to be hopeless or lonely for the individual. With DPC, people with psychosis can have a better way of managing their condition and improving their lives, by having a direct and personal relationship with their primary care physician, who can provide them with accessible, affordable, personalized, and continuous care. Not only will DPC help people with psychosis improve their health, but they will also be happier.
As Albert Einstein once said, “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
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