Carl Earl Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP, Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP, and Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP continue their discussion in part 2 of this podcast series addressing disparities in healthcare and the importance of preventative medicine in reducing them.  Today, the focus is on the primary care provider’s impact on COVID-19.  They will share what they think a primary care doctor's role is in helping to address and prevent disparities.  Their message is one of hope and the opportunity primary care providers have to make a positive, lasting change in their patients’ lives in regard to their health and wellness.

In their own words:

As primary care providers, we have the optimal role. We should be at the forefront. We are the ones that will essentially take the lead on this, and it'll be important and pivotal that we lead and guide because we know patients from a more chronic, a more long term, a more intimate relationship, and that's going to help us to be able to really have the greatest impact.

Helping people understand how what they do every day is going to impact how well they're going to have quality of life.  That quality of life goes beyond the medication they're taking, goes beyond a vaccine they're taking; and it goes on to how are they managing stress? How are they sleeping at night? Are they eating their vegetables? Are they exercising? Are they getting fresh air? All of these things are going to be important.

And that is why we as primary care physicians are in an optimal place to be able to address this and impact it because we are the ones at the forefront of dealing with these chronic issues that impact quality of life.

Join this panel as they discuss:

• The impact of preventative care and the primary care provider’s (PCP) pivotal role in their patient's lives
• Reflection on the PCPs roles historically as healers and spiritual leaders
• Ways to use influence to evoke change and help your patient recognize the vision of their “best self”
• Improving health literacy among patients
• Ways to reduce compassion fatigue

Learning Objectives:

• Realize how much influence and impact you have as a primary care provider
• Ways to partner with organizations and people with strong ties to struggling communities
• Reiterate the importance that rest for the clinician is vital to maintaining energy and personal health

Visit us at illinoisvaccinates.com/podcasts.