20-Somethings: Young and Fit? Here Are 5 Reasons You STILL Need a Doctor

Younger adults are generally in better health than older people.  Plus, many people run, work out and try to keep themselves in better health.  So why is it that 20-somethings rely on emergency departments (EDs) for care far more than those in other age groups?

• Often these trips to the ED are not for emergency care. It’s because they don’t have a primary care physician and don’t know where else to turn when something comes up.
• Many young people don’t have a primary care physician (PCP) because they simply haven’t taken the time to choose one.
• Others don’t have a primary care physician because they don’t have insurance; perhaps they lost their insurance during the transition from their teen years to adulthood. 

You may have procrastinated with finding a primary care physician, but now is the time to choose one so that you can start getting preventive care that may help you avoid a serious medical issue.  

Here are 5 reasons having a PCP is important:

1. Preventive care helps you reach your personal best by:
• Setting a baseline for tracking your health over time.
• Catching problems before they become major issues.
• Getting on a path for lifelong health management.
2. Get personal medical advice for urgent medical issues:
• With a PCP, you’ll get medical advice when you need urgent medical attention.
• An ED doctor isn't familiar with you; your PCP knows you and your medical history.
3. Having a regular source of care correlates to better health:
• Having a PCP will keep you healthier.
• Studies show that adults who have established a relationship with a PCP have better health outcomes and better chronic disease management.
4. Get personal treatment from someone you know:
• You’ll get VIP treatment from someone who knows you.
•  Your PCP has an entire team that works to help keep you healthy and at your best
5. It’s a non-emergency care option that is far less costly than the ED:
• Do the math: Seeing a primary care physician is far less expensive than the cost of a trip to the emergency department.
•  Plus, you’ll save money over the long run. One national study showed that adults who had a primary care physician as their regular source of care had 33 percent lower costs of care.

So get running…to the doctor!

Having a PCP will help you be prepared to deal with any medical issue that may arise down the road. If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to find affordable health coverage options.  Remember, young adults can get coverage until the age of 26 through a parent’s insurance.  Finally, there is a trusted resource you can use to find a PCP. Visit YourHealthMatters.org to find a doctor near you.

Dr. William Mase, Master of Public Health Program, Director and Assistant Professor of

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Environmental Health

Supporting Individuals Living With Developmental Disabilities To MakeTheRightCall

What if you are not prepared to make the right call?  What if you do not know the names of the medications you take or your medical history?  What if you depend on someone else to make nearly all of your medical decisions?  Adults with developmental disabilities are often confronted with this reality. Self-determination, choice, and advocacy are major themes in the services and supports provided to adults with developmental disabilities.  Individuals are provided training and assistance making decisions on which programs to attend, where to live, how to vote, and many other life decisions.  Unfortunately, there is not as much focus on health and wellness and taking control of health care decisions.  Most individuals living with a developmental disability rely on family members, guardians, or paid professional staff for support in making major life decisions. 

As a vocational and transitional employment service provider for adults living with developmental disabilities, Easter Seals TriState is in a unique position to help individuals learn how to be more involved in their health care decisions.  The individuals we serve spend more time with us than they do with most other people in their lives.  Easter Seals TriState’s Addressing Health Disparities project, made possible by a generous grant from Bethesda Inc., aims to use this time to assist individuals with overcoming barriers to becoming more engaged in their health care.  The materials provided by the MakeTheRightCall campaign gives us wonderful resources to provide education to people whose unique needs are often overlooked in the medical community.  For example, in addition to carrying identification, adults with disabilities should also have their doctor’s name and phone number listed and their caregiver should ask about physician after-hours procedures to be prepared in advance in case they need to contact the doctor.

Adults with developmental disabilities also face numerous challenges when seeking to obtain health care.  These challenges include attitudinal, physical, and communication barriers in addition to having low health literacy skills and a fear of examinations.  Obviously, these challenges make it difficult to establish a relationship with a primary care physician.  If you know or take care of an adult with a developmental disability, check out the “MaketheRightCall” campaign, including videos like this one to educate everyone on the importance of getting quality care in the appropriate location.  I also encourage you to contact Easter Seals at www.eastersealstristate.org to learn more about local programs and resources to support individuals with disabilities in our community. 

Jonathon Sherwood, M.Ed.

Project Director

Easter Seals TriState