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Coordination of Specialty Care
At Optima Medical, we provide comprehensive coordination of specialty care services, ensuring better communication and collaboration between you, your primary care provider, and specialists.
What is Coordination of Specialty Care?
Coordination of specialty care involves working closely with patients and specialists to manage referrals, treatments, and follow-ups. This ensures that all aspects of your healthcare are aligned, helping you receive the right care at the right time while minimizing stress and confusion.
How Does Coordination of Specialty Care Work?
- Initial Assessment
Your primary care provider evaluates your health concerns and determines if specialized care is needed. - Referral Management
We handle referrals to trusted specialists in our network, ensuring a smooth transition. - Information Sharing
Your medical history, test results, and other relevant information are shared securely with the specialist to avoid unnecessary duplication and streamline care. - Ongoing Communication
We maintain open communication with specialists to ensure continuity of care and provide updates on your treatment progress. - Follow-Up Care
After your specialist visit, we coordinate follow-ups, ensuring that your care plan is adjusted as needed.
Why is Coordination of Specialty Care Important?
- Streamlined Communication: Ensures all healthcare providers are aligned on your treatment plan.
- Reduced Stress: Simplifies the process of finding and scheduling appointments with specialists.
- Better Outcomes: Improves the quality of care by reducing delays, miscommunications, or redundant testing.
- Holistic Care: Integrates specialist recommendations into your overall healthcare plan.
When is Specialty Care Coordination Needed?
Specialty care coordination is essential for patients who:
- Require advanced diagnostic tests or treatments.
- Are managing complex or chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders.
- Need surgical consultations or procedures.
- Are experiencing rare or difficult-to-diagnose symptoms.
- Require access to mental health services or counseling.
Types of Specialists We Coordinate With
- Cardiologists
For heart-related concerns, such as hypertension, arrhythmias, or heart disease. - Endocrinologists
For conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, or hormone imbalances. - Pulmonologists
For respiratory issues, including asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea. - Gastroenterologists
For digestive system concerns, including GERD, IBS, and liver conditions. - Neurologists
For brain and nervous system issues, such as migraines or neurological disorders. - Oncologists
For cancer diagnosis and treatment. - Orthopedists
For joint, bone, and muscle conditions. - Mental Health Professionals
For anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health needs.
Why Choose Optima Medical for Specialty Care Coordination?
At Optima Medical, we take the stress out of navigating specialty care by offering:
- Trusted Network of Specialists: We work with highly qualified specialists across a variety of fields.
- Seamless Communication: Our team ensures that your primary care provider and specialist are always on the same page.
- Patient Advocacy: We act as your advocate, ensuring you receive timely and personalized care.
- Convenient Referrals: Quick and easy scheduling with specialists at locations that work for you.
How to Get Started
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1. Schedule an Appointment
Meet with your primary care provider to discuss your health concerns and determine if specialty care is needed. -
2. Let Us Handle the Details
We’ll manage the referral, appointment scheduling, and communication with specialists. -
3. Focus on Your Health
Rest assured knowing your healthcare is being expertly coordinated.
Behavioral Health FAQs
Q: What kinds of treatments are available for behavioral health issues at Optima?
A: Treatment for behavioral health issues is varied and tailored to the individual’s specific condition and needs. Your behavioral health care manager will help you build coping skills, increase self-awareness of symptoms, provide psychoeducation, process daily stressors, and provide resources for individual/group therapy. If you chose to explore medication options, our psychiatric providers will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine what medication will be the best fit for you.
Q: How do I know if I or someone I know needs behavioral health treatment?
A: Recognizing the need for behavioral health treatment often begins with observing changes in behavior, mood, or daily functioning that persist or worsen over time. Symptoms might include excessive sadness or worry, extreme mood changes, confusion, withdrawal from social activities, changes in sleeping or eating habits, or the use of substances to cope with daily challenges. However, a definitive diagnosis should always be made by a qualified healthcare professional
Q: Do you offer in-person care for behavioral health services?
A: At Optima, our behavioral health program operates virtually, making it convenient for you to receive care via telehealth. We do not offer in-person services.
Q: What are your hours of operation?
A: Our department is open Monday- Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Q: I’m having thoughts of hurting myself or someone else. What should I do?
A: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or hurting someone else, you should seek emergency services immediately. You can call the national suicide crisis prevention line at 988.
Q: What is the difference between a behavioral health care manager and a therapist?
A: A behavioral health care manager is not a licensed professional, they are behavioral health specialists. They can provide brief psychotherapy interventions such as developing healthy coping skills, creating healthy habits, psychoeducation, and processing daily stressors you may have. Their main job role is to collaborate with patients, their primary care provider, and their psychiatric provider to develop comprehensive treatment plans. They also coordinate care between you and your psychiatric provider, making it easy to schedule an appointment, get a refill, etc. A therapist is a licensed counselor that provides direct therapeutic interventions to help you gain skills and understand why you do the things you do. Your care manager can assist with getting you counseling services.
Q: What mental health conditions is Optima unable to treat?
A: Because we operate virtually, it would be unethical to provide services to certain mental health conditions. Some conditions require a higher level of care, which would require in-person services. We are unable to treat patients who are SMI (serious mental illness), those that suffer from a severe psychiatric condition such as schizophrenia, patients who are an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, substance use disorders, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and certain intellectual disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder. We are also unable to treat minors
Optima Medical is Your Partner for Your Health
We are committed to providing you with comprehensive, seamless healthcare. If you need specialized care, let us help guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about our specialty care coordination services.
