AUSTIN, Texas. Modern medicine is capable of remarkable things. Victims who suffer traumatic injury after a car accident are often, with the help of proper rehabilitation, able to see incredible recoveries. Patients who suffer incredible trauma in truck or car accidents are able to receive life-saving emergency treatment. Yet, in the aftermath of the trauma and the emergency room, there is a subtle kind of medical care that may be just as important, but may not be getting valued. According to the New York Times, in today’s system of health care billing, and Medicare, doctors are not able to bill for the time they spend getting to know their patients or developing a relationship. While this may seem like a small point, doctors who understand their patients and their goals may be better able to offer them appropriate treatment.
For example, if you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident and your goal is to be able to go jogging again, it can be helpful to your treatment if your doctor takes the time to know this. While the healthcare system has been largely digitized, allowing doctors and specialists to communicate more readily with each other, some critics are worried that doctors may be communicating less with their own patients as a result.
There isn’t much research on the value of having a personal relationship with your doctor, but some studies have begun to investigate the importance of having a primary care physician on your team. According to the New York Times, primary care physicians generally cannot afford to spend more than 15 minutes with each patient. Yet early research indicates that doctors who spend more time with patients save money in future hospitalizations and in medical errors. Doctors need to take the time to understand what medications patients are taking and to understand whether there might be any interactions there. Doctors who take the time to understand their patient’s lifestyles, social life, and home situation may also be able to help their patients make decisions to promote healthier living.
For a patient who has suffered a personal injury, time with a doctor can also give them a better sense of how long the recovery process might take, and what they may need to do to recover. In fact, in some cases, patients might even be encouraged to engage in regular life activities with the supervision of a doctor. According to the journal, Spine, patients who resumed normal life activities after whiplash saw significant improvement. Yet, how does a doctor know when to suggest rehab or normal exercise? Having a doctor who knows you could help.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, treatment options can be overwhelming. The cost of treatment can also be stressful and challenging. Fortunately, the law offers important protections for victims facing medical bills and other challenges due to car accident injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a crash in Austin, Texas, consider reaching out to the Robson Law Firm, car accident attorneys. We may be able to help you seek damages to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Visit us at https://robsonlawfirm.com/ to learn more.
Robson Law Firm
1114 Lost Creek Boulevard
Suite 440
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 345-8200