Once every three weeks, Tran Van An, a 65-year-old man with Type 2diabetes, sees a "family doctor" at the District 10 Hospital in HCMCity.
The regular visits to the doctor for more than a year has helped him effectively manage his chronic medical problems.
"The doctor keeps my health records and makes routine health checks," An, who lives in Ward 15 in District 11, said.
"I have been able to prevent serious diabetes complications because ofregular health checks and following the doctor's instructions."
With a prior appointment, it takes him just half an hour at most tocomplete his regular health check at the family medical clinic, he said,adding that he has to wait for two to three hours at other places.
The "family doctor" model requires the physicians to regularly inquirepatients about work, lifestyle, and family health history to decide onthe course of treatment, resulting in a close doctor-patientrelationship, Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh of the family medical clinic said.
The doctors spend an average of 10 minutes on each patient and carefully track their health records, he said.
"Patients can call me for advice.
"Family medicine provides a healthcare model that is fullypatient-centred, allowing patients to choose a doctor they feelsatisfied with and shortening the waiting time for check-ups."
The clinic has 25 doctors treating 300-350 patients every day, Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the hospital, said.
The clinic, set up at the hospital in October last year, manages morethan 11,200 health records. It provides great satisfaction to patientsdue to the quality of healthcare and by saving them time and money, hesaid.
Patients with health insurance cards get all the normal benefits despite the personalised service, he added.
If patients require another specialist or to be hospitalised fortreatment, family doctors guide their patients as well as updateinformation about the treatment in patients' health records.
Thedoctors help patients both with acute illnesses and chronic medicalproblems like diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and asthma, Tungsaid.
An said: "I like the model because my chronic medicalconditions are better managed by a single doctor with my health recordsbeing regularly updated.
"Besides health check and treatment,the doctor is willing to advise me about healthy eating, appropriatephysical activities, and good habits to reduce the risk of seriouscomplications.
"My wife and son also bought health insurance atthe clinic due to its good quality of service as well as convenience forinsured patients."
Nguyen Thanh Hiep, head of Pham Ngoc ThachUniversity of Medicine's family medicine department, said a familydoctor is the first person people turn to for treating medicalconditions.
"Family doctors take care of the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both patients and their families," he said.
"They are trained to take care of most healthcare needs and providecomprehensive care through all the stages of a patient's life.
"Family doctors play an essential role in the health care system,providing routine health screening, preventive care, and counselling onlifestyle changes to patients."
The university has worked with the city's Department of Health to provide training to the family doctors, he said.
District 10 Hospital is one of the four in the city to adopt themodel, the others being Go Vap District Hospital, Binh Tan DistrictHospital, and District 2 Hospital.
Nguyen Ngoc Duy, head of theDepartment of Health's planning division, said all district-levelhospitals and community primary care clinics in wards and communes wouldadopt the model by 2015.
At least 30 private healthcare clinicswould also have family doctors by 2015 under the 2013-20 national planon development of family doctor clinics, he said, adding that b y 2020,all general hospitals and private clinics in the city would be in theprogramme.
The city is focusing on training human resources forthe programme and developing a system for maintaining health recordselectronically.
"Family doctor model is one of the fundamentalmeasures to improve community healthcare and reduce patient overload atmajor hospitals in the city," he added.-VNA
The regular visits to the doctor for more than a year has helped him effectively manage his chronic medical problems.
"The doctor keeps my health records and makes routine health checks," An, who lives in Ward 15 in District 11, said.
"I have been able to prevent serious diabetes complications because ofregular health checks and following the doctor's instructions."
With a prior appointment, it takes him just half an hour at most tocomplete his regular health check at the family medical clinic, he said,adding that he has to wait for two to three hours at other places.
The "family doctor" model requires the physicians to regularly inquirepatients about work, lifestyle, and family health history to decide onthe course of treatment, resulting in a close doctor-patientrelationship, Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh of the family medical clinic said.
The doctors spend an average of 10 minutes on each patient and carefully track their health records, he said.
"Patients can call me for advice.
"Family medicine provides a healthcare model that is fullypatient-centred, allowing patients to choose a doctor they feelsatisfied with and shortening the waiting time for check-ups."
The clinic has 25 doctors treating 300-350 patients every day, Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the hospital, said.
The clinic, set up at the hospital in October last year, manages morethan 11,200 health records. It provides great satisfaction to patientsdue to the quality of healthcare and by saving them time and money, hesaid.
Patients with health insurance cards get all the normal benefits despite the personalised service, he added.
If patients require another specialist or to be hospitalised fortreatment, family doctors guide their patients as well as updateinformation about the treatment in patients' health records.
Thedoctors help patients both with acute illnesses and chronic medicalproblems like diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and asthma, Tungsaid.
An said: "I like the model because my chronic medicalconditions are better managed by a single doctor with my health recordsbeing regularly updated.
"Besides health check and treatment,the doctor is willing to advise me about healthy eating, appropriatephysical activities, and good habits to reduce the risk of seriouscomplications.
"My wife and son also bought health insurance atthe clinic due to its good quality of service as well as convenience forinsured patients."
Nguyen Thanh Hiep, head of Pham Ngoc ThachUniversity of Medicine's family medicine department, said a familydoctor is the first person people turn to for treating medicalconditions.
"Family doctors take care of the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both patients and their families," he said.
"They are trained to take care of most healthcare needs and providecomprehensive care through all the stages of a patient's life.
"Family doctors play an essential role in the health care system,providing routine health screening, preventive care, and counselling onlifestyle changes to patients."
The university has worked with the city's Department of Health to provide training to the family doctors, he said.
District 10 Hospital is one of the four in the city to adopt themodel, the others being Go Vap District Hospital, Binh Tan DistrictHospital, and District 2 Hospital.
Nguyen Ngoc Duy, head of theDepartment of Health's planning division, said all district-levelhospitals and community primary care clinics in wards and communes wouldadopt the model by 2015.
At least 30 private healthcare clinicswould also have family doctors by 2015 under the 2013-20 national planon development of family doctor clinics, he said, adding that b y 2020,all general hospitals and private clinics in the city would be in theprogramme.
The city is focusing on training human resources forthe programme and developing a system for maintaining health recordselectronically.
"Family doctor model is one of the fundamentalmeasures to improve community healthcare and reduce patient overload atmajor hospitals in the city," he added.-VNA
