Opinion
Video
Seamless Management Between Primary Care Providers and Specialists
Author(s):
Panelists discuss how UPMC's integrated delivery and financing system enables coordinated care through e-consults, proactive outreach to primary care physicians, case management, telemedicine, and streamlined referral processes that reduce friction for patients and providers.
Modest Weight Loss and Health Benefits
Even modest weight loss of 3-5% can produce significant health improvements, potentially allowing reduction in hypertension medications and helping patients feel better overall. Greater weight loss of 10-12% can reverse conditions like sleep apnea and substantially improve various comorbidities that patients struggle with daily. When weight loss approaches 20%, diabetes remission becomes possible, offering transformative health outcomes.
The key to successful patient engagement involves identifying individual motivations, whether it's reducing knee pain, eliminating CPAP dependence, or addressing diabetes fears based on family history. Most patients are surprised to learn that relatively modest weight loss can produce meaningful health benefits. The focus shifts from unrealistic goals like achieving high school weight to attainable health improvements that matter to patients.
Modern medications make these weight loss goals much more achievable than in the past, creating excitement among both patients and providers. The emphasis on health-related functional goals rather than appearance-based objectives helps patients maintain motivation and engagement. Understanding what truly motivates each patient becomes crucial for developing effective treatment plans and maintaining long-term success in managing both diabetes and obesity.
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