From the Guidelines
To get treatment, start by identifying your health concern and then consult with a healthcare provider, as treatment choice should be based on individualized patient and provider assessment of preferences, risks, and benefits 1. When seeking treatment, it's essential to consider the severity of your condition and choose the appropriate healthcare setting.
- For non-emergency issues, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician who can evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate treatment.
- For urgent matters, visit an urgent care center, and for emergencies like severe pain, breathing difficulties, or major injuries, go to an emergency room or call 911. Many conditions require professional diagnosis before specific treatments can be recommended.
- If you already have a diagnosis, follow your doctor's prescribed treatment plan, which may include medications, therapy, lifestyle changes, or specialist referrals.
- Health insurance typically covers many treatments, but check your coverage details.
- For mental health concerns, primary care doctors can provide referrals to therapists, psychiatrists, or counselors.
- Telehealth options are also available for remote consultations when in-person visits aren't possible. It's also important to note that hospitals have a responsibility to provide medical screening examinations and necessary stabilizing treatment to all patients who come to the emergency department, regardless of their ability to pay 1. Additionally, providers should assess social context, including potential food insecurity, housing stability, and financial barriers, and apply that information to treatment decisions 1. Remember that early treatment often leads to better outcomes, so don't delay seeking care when you notice concerning symptoms. When evaluating treatment options, consider that the patient must be informed of all available and acceptable treatment options applicable to their clinical situation 1.
From the Research
Getting Treatment
To get treatment, patients typically contact their primary care physician (PCP) first 2. There are two types of patient requests:
- Non-scheduled patients who are walk-ins without an appointment
- Scheduled patients with an appointment The number and position of scheduled appointments influence waiting times for patients, capacity for treatment, and the utilization of PCPs.
Scheduling Appointments
Appointment scheduling policies/templates can help strike an effective balance between the lead-time to an appointment and waiting times at the clinic on the day of the appointment 3. Some key factors to consider when scheduling appointments include:
- Patients' no-show behaviors
- Provider availability
- Overbooking
- Demand uncertainty
- Overtime constraints
Treatment Options
There are various treatment options available for different medical conditions. For example:
- Lorundrostat is an aldosterone synthase inhibitor that has been shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension 4
- Progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) is a significant contributor to long-term disability accumulation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and a standardized definition of PIRA can help enhance comparability among studies 5
Cellular Systems
Cellular systems, such as the one that degrades misfolded proteins, can protect against neurodegeneration 6. This system involves the sequential SUMOylation and ubiquitination of misfolded proteins, which are then targeted for proteasomal degradation.