You’re probably familiar with the phrase “It takes a village” when referring to raising children. That village usually includes help from family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, daycares, teammates/coaches, music/dance/art instructors, loved ones, and so on.When I think about this concept I can’t help but whistle the classicBeatles song, “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends…”. What is often overlooked though is the “medical village,” if you will, required to keep your household healthy and thriving. In this article, we will explore the foundational MedicalDream Team every household needs in order to get healthy, stay healthy, and age well.

Consider forming your household Medical Dream Team with these professional doctors:

1. Family Medicine / Internal Medicine Physician
2. Dentist
3. Optometrist
4. Dermatologist
5. Psychologist
6. Pediatrician (for households with children from birth to 18 years of age)
7. Doctor of Physical Therapy

As we think about doctors and specialities within medicine, we begin to divide the body into parts and segments, or conditions and diseases. Let’s revisit the list provided above for your MedicalDream Team. The family medicine / internal medicine physician is one who specializes in caring for the general public, young adults, adults, and those who are aging. They typically have a recurring visit (your annual physical) with you and will also be your go-to person if someone falls ill with a short-term virus or bacterial infection. The dentist is a doctor who specializes in taking care of one’s mouth, jaw, and teeth. The optometrist is a doctor who specializes in eyes: vision, sight, infections, etc. The dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in your skin, the largest organ of your human body.They look for signs of skin cancer, can help fight aging with interesting modalities and fancy technology, and educate the general public on how to properly care for the exterior of our bodies.The psychologist is a doctor of the mind and your emotions / behaviors. The global pandemic has opened our eyes to mental health and the fact that seeking treatment is a positive and healthy thing to do. As we treat and train the rest of our bodies, we must not neglect our innermost workings:heart, soul, emotions, mindset. Having a household doctor of psychology should be seen as commonplace and viewed as wise. Next, the pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the development and care of infants, children, and teenagers. This is a must-have if children are in your household.

Finally, we come to the Doctor of Physical Therapy. Perhaps this is the professional you didn’t expect to be on the list.. The other doctors are standard, commonplace, and more typical. Let’s explore why a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is critical to include on your Medical Dream Team.

DPTs are doctors of the whole body: Inside and outside, bones and muscles, ligaments and tendons, pediatrics to geriatrics, cardiology to sports medicine. They are widely trained in everything from neurology (stroke, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, etc.) to orthopedics (joint pain, sports injuries, chronic pain, etc.). They can evaluate your medications and read your radiology reports and films. A DPT is a solid, smart choice for your go-to family doctor when things hurt or aren’t functioning properly. The role of the physical therapist is best described by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. But PTs also care for people who simply want to become healthier and to prevent future problems.Physical therapists examine each person and then develop a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability.Physical therapists can have a profound effect on people’s lives. They help people achieve fitness goals, regain or maintain their independence, and lead active lives.

A recent change in regulation in the state of Maryland means you no longer need to have a physician referral to be evaluated by aDoctor of Physical Therapy! As soon as you experience pain, injury, or the like, you can immediately schedule an appointment with a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

When talking about any of these Dream Team doctors, it is important to note that some may be standard insurance-accepting practitioners while others may be out-of-network private pay. Is one better than the other? Not always. But sometimes, yes. Private pay doctors tend to (1) spend adequate time with their patients, (2) treat patients according to science, and are not limited in what they can offer patients as typically dictated by insurance reimbursement, and (3) provide high-quality care for their patients. They have broken through glass ceilings, broken out of standard health care molds, and are entrepreneurial at heart. They have developed better, more effective and highly efficient methods of offering healthcare to their patients.

Why would someone consider using an out-of-network doctor over using a doctor their insurance covers? Good question. Let’s look at a common example for physical therapy. A typical referral says something like “Eval & Treat, knee pain, 2-3 times/week for 6-8 weeks.” When you take that referral to a standard insurance practice, the front desk does some quick elementary math (3×8=24). You are pre-approved for 24 visits of physical therapy. You will pay a copay 24 times. You will carve out time from home, work, and other obligations 24 times. The standard physical therapy copay in 2022ranges from $25-$40, on average. At $25 per visit you are paying $600 and using well over 24 hours to commute, park, and attend the sessions. That’s assuming parking is free.At those sessions, you’ll likely see a doctor of physical therapy for a few minutes and then get handed off to an aide, tech, or assistant to finish your exercises.

If you took that same referral to an out-of-network clinic, you could be in and out of PT in 1-5sessions with the same outcome. You’ll pay about $200 for each 1-hour session, but you’ll be with the doctor of physical therapy one-on-one for the entire session. Furthermore, you’ve saved yourself over 20 hours, or more, of time. I should also mention that many concierge private-pay practitioner shave the option to come to you. Yes, your doctor can come for a house-call. That still exists! It’s not just a thing fromLittle House on the Prairie or remote rural communities. To some, time is money. To others, time is priceless. These are the decisions you have to make for you and your household.Sometimes the standard medical wheelhouse is appropriate, sometimes you need more from your doctors. You get to choose! This is not just the case for physical therapy, but also for any and all of the doctors on your household Medical Dream Team.

It’s also important to remember that not all doctors are created equally. How do you know if you have found a good one? Beyond the basics of making sure they are licensed and properly credentialed, here are attributes to look for when choosing professionals for your household Medical Dream Team:

1. Their office is easy to get in touch with during business hours and you can actually speak to a person on the phone when you have questions. If they cannot answer the phone immediately, you should have a call back within two hours for non-emergent questions.
2. You should have access to your provider during office hours and beyond office hours. The doctor may not give you their personal cell phone number or email address but there should be an online portal or after-hours call system where you can get questions answered on weekends, holidays, and evening hours.
3. They should spend quality time with you and you should not feel rushed when receiving treatment. During your time together, the best practitioners demonstrate good active listening skills and are genuinely interested in hearing from you. After all, you know your body the best.
4. These professionals should consider conservative treatment methods and yet be progressive and intuitive with their treatment plans. If you simply get a prescription for a medication without any discussion of nutrition, sleep, overall wellness, or lifestyle modifications, your doctor is not providing you with optimal care.
5. Excellent doctors should care about all your pieces and parts, not just one related to their speciality. When seeing your eye doctor or dentist, they should ask you about any changes to your overall medical history. If they don’t, you might want to consider finding a new provider.
6. Lastly, your Medical Dream Team should be your one-stop-shop for any and all referrals that are needed for your care. Things come up. You may find yourself in need of an oncologist, or pulmonologist, or allergist. Your Medical Dream Team should be able to quickly provide you with top-quality referrals to all sub-specialties. If they only know and care about a small circle of influence, you are not receiving the best care for your healthcare dollar.
7. Lastly, your gut should have a strong confidence in your Medical Dream Team doctors. If you are second-guessing your doctors or questioning their logic…..pay attention to that voice in your head. Listen to your gut.

In conclusion, if you build your household Medical Dream Team as outlined above you’ll be in a good position to get healthy, stay healthy, and age well. I hope you understand a few more of your options when it comes to choosing providers. Lastly, I trust you see the value of adding a Doctor of Physical Therapy to your Medical Dream Team.

I would love to hear from you if you have any questions. Please feel free to contact me if you’re seeking clarification or looking for some high-quality referrals. Email me directly atliz@launchsp.com.We also offer free consultations to help you develop a customized care plan that meets your unique health care needs and expectations. Call our clinic at (240) 406-1265 to schedule yours today.

Cheers to good health! Dr. Liz