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32 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 21, 2022 Putting your Health First: The Importance of Returning to Primary Care SPONSORED CONTENT D octors are watching an unwelcome trend more than two years after the start of the pandemic: patients coming into hospitals across the United States needing more acute care. They are more severely ill, requiring longer hospitalizations, than before the pandemic began. Doctors say they know for many individuals keeping up with annual well visits has not been top-of-mind during COVID-19, but it's not too late to get back on track. In a conversation with Josh Mosdale, M.D., Chief of Primary Care for Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group's Waterbury region, we discuss the first steps patients can take, to take control of their health. Q: Why is primary care so important and a critical step in an individual's journey to health and well-being? A: Primary care providers are the ones who oversee everything in your healthcare. We get to know you and your family, we are good at preventative care and at diagnosing problems. That's how we guide patients through their personal health journey: looking at family history, exercise, nutrition, health habits, stress levels/mental wellness, all to get an overall look at the risk or chances for chronic disease as well as provide education and information that could make staying healthy easier for the patient. We know it can be a little daunting or scary to go to see a primary care doctor, especially if it's been a long time since you've been, but we encourage you to take this important first step to ensure you have the knowledge and the tools needed to be there to continue to care for your family and live a long, happy life! Q: During the height of the pandemic, many delayed regular wellness appointments or preventive screenings. Is that still the case and if so, what is your recommendation to the community? A: Absolutely, we're definitely seeing patients coming in sicker than usual right now. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases such as diabetes haven't gone away just because we went through a pandemic. It's imperative these are managed properly with the support of your primary care provider. In most cases, if you go to your annual exams, we're able to catch issues earlier, which could prevent a person from becoming seriously ill, or face hospitalization or death. Men need prostate screenings, women need to get their mammograms, and patients with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes need to have their blood pressure and blood sugar monitored. We know that cancer is increasing in the U.S. right now and there are various screenings to stop it at the early stages, get it treated right away, and navigate it properly. Prevention is the key for all: preventive screenings, preventive visits, preventive health habits are what allow us to raise our chances of longevity, wellness and living a healthy life. Q: How does Trinity Health Of New England meet those needs and make it easy for patients to access their primary care provider? A: We know convenience is critical to our patients and we are proud to offer a multitude of ways to make scheduling a primary care appointment and maintaining wellness easy. Our online scheduling option allows both new and existing patients to book an appointment with a primary care physician or certain specialists at their convenience at TrinityHealthOfNE.org/ schedule. We also have a primary care concierge phone line at 833-C-YOU-NOW (833- 296-8669) which is available to everyone, regardless of your health care insurance plan. And, our patient portal, MyCare, allows patients to take control of their own health by using the portal to ask their doctor a question, see full test results and physician notes, and set appointment reminders. All of these resources allow the patient to form a good partnership with their primary care physician. We understand, life is really busy and so many of us are taking care of everyone and everything else around us: our kids, our parents, our jobs, our homes. But, who will take care of all of that if you aren't well enough to be here? You matter and your health matters to those who love you so you need to carve out the time for yourself and your wellness. To schedule a primary care appointment, visit TrinityHealthOfNE.org/ schedule or call 833-C-YOU- NOW (833-296-8669). Josh Mosdale, M.D., Chief of Primary Care - Waterbury Market Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group