There are many settings in which doctors provide patient care, from expansive facilities like hospitals to small doctor’s offices. Many doctors provide care out of medical centers, which are like a mix of the two.
Let’s discuss what medical centers are, the signs that you may need to visit a doctor’s medical center, and where you can go in Central Florida and South Florida for an outstanding facility that serves these purposes in the interest of your good health.
What Is a Medical Center?
A medical center is a setting where multiple types of healthcare and wellness services are provided. Unlike a doctor’s office, in which the only kind of care provided is primary care or a specialty kind of care – like cardiology or neurology – medical centers house offices for multiple types of doctors of multiple specialties.
In addition, they may have other services like physical therapy with onsite physical therapists, medical insurance support services, and even diagnostic testing services.
Some of the main reasons why you would want to specifically seek medical care at a doctor’s medical center include the following:
When You Need a Geriatric Specialist
While you may have had a primary care doctor for much of your adult life, it can be advantageous to transition to a geriatric specialist, or geriatrician, as your primary care doctor as you age. Geriatric specialists are doctors who are experts on health conditions related to aging, and so they provide primary care to patients 65 years and above. If you have issues related to age, including memory decline, difficulty walking and balancing, or chronic pain, it may be time to start seeing a geriatrician at a medical center.
Often, geriatricians work in medical centers because medical centers provide comprehensive care services, and this doctor can therefore easily refer you to other medical services within the center. This is beneficial for you because you wouldn’t have to go to multiple locations to get the treatment you need.
When You Need Patient Support Services
As we age, we tend to develop more complicated health conditions and need various medications to treat them. To make things easier for the patient, some medical centers offer case management services.
If you need a lot of care from multiple providers, trained case managers could help you keep track of appointments and your overall health. In addition to case management services, some medical centers, especially those geared towards patients 65 years and above, offer Medicare services.
When You Need More than Just Primary Care
An advantage of medical centers is that they offer services to complement primary care services, like physical therapy, podiatry, and massage. This way you can book an appointment to conveniently see your primary care physician and your physical therapist on the same day in the same location.
One of the best ways to stay healthy as you age is to participate in wellness activities on a regular basis. This can include activities like arts and crafts, meditation, and exercise classes. Patients who engage in these activities experience physical, social, and mental benefits and report better quality of life – all of which help prevent disease and promote good health.
Trusted Medical Center in Central and South Florida
If you need a primary care physician who specializes in geriatric medicine, and if you need support services and specialty services like therapy and wellness programs, then it is in your best interest to visit a doctor’s medical center.
At Palm Medical Centers, we have trained patient-relations outreach representatives whose sole focus is to help Medicare patients apply for and select plans. We offer personalized assistance in your healthcare journey from trained case managers – and at Palm Medical Centers, case management services are complimentary.
Another essential patient support service is transportation. Some patients may not be able to drive themselves to their appointments, do not have any family or friends who can drive them, or have limited mobility and need special assistance to travel by car. At Palm Medical Centers, we have complimentary unlimited transportation to and from appointments at our medical center, as well as transportation to nearby specialist clinics if needed.
We offer all of these services and have caring physicians who are board-certified in geriatric medicine. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at (833) 500-PALM (7256), or fill out our new patient request form online here. We are committed to providing you with high-quality, value-based care, and we look forward to being your partner in your health journey!
