The primary care provider does an initial exam and refers the patient to an in network breast facility for tertiary care (Stechschulte, 2016). The following tertiary care was provided at the breast facility: a mammogram performed by a RT (radiologic technologist), an ultrasound performed by RDMS (registered diagnostic medical sonographer), with all results and recommendations reviewed and agreed upon by a radiologist (Stechschulte, 2016). The primary care provider after reviewing the provide recommendations and imaging refers the patient to an in network surgeon specializing in breast biopsies at an in network hospital (Stechschulte, 2016). The following tertiary care was provided at the hospital: an ultrasound-guided core needle …show more content…
The patient’s health insurance has a large network of hospitals and doctors that meet their requirements for care (Barton, 2010, p. 116). If the doctor or hospital is not in the network the insurance will not cover the care so the patient would have to foot the entire bill (Barton, 2010, p. 116). Doctors not in your network either do not meet the requirements, have not been screened, or have opted out of your network (Barton, 2010, p. 116).
The patient’s referral process was handled properly, in a relatively short amount of time. The referral process reflected what was described in this week’s reading. Telemedicine.
“Telemedicine seeks to improve a patient's health by permitting two-way, real time interactive communication between the patient, and the physician or practitioner at the distant site.” (Medicaid.gov, n.d). In this week’s case study telemedicine did just that. It allowed the specialist and primary care provider to stay in constant communication resolving the patient’s health issue in a much quicker time than if everything had to be derived by mail and in