Collaborative Design for Recovery and Health

Paid opportunity:

I am looking for a peer supporter who has a lived experience of head and neck cancer. We're developing research in this area to help support screening---I think peer supporters can really be helpful! DM me!

Another paid opportunity: I am working with head and neck cancer physician-scientists and they are developing a program of research in this area. We are looking for lived experience expertise, medical social workers, dentists, and representatives from Medicaid and/or Medicare to co-produce this research. Email me if you have any interest: [email protected]

I remember the day vividly. I was in excruciating pain, confined to a wheelchair, and felt like I was on the brink of death. Every movement was agony, and I couldn't see a way out of the darkness that enveloped me. My family had rushed me to the primary care clinic, hoping for a miracle.

When we arrived, the clinic was bustling, but the staff immediately recognized the severity of my condition. THEY SAW ME--when no one else did. THEY LISTENED TO ME when all hope was lost. They didn't make me wait. Instead, a nurse quickly wheeled me into an examination room, and within minutes, Dr. Hussain, the primary care doctor, came in. He looked calm and collected, but his eyes reflected deep concern.

For the next hour, Dr. Khwaja A Hussain was entirely focused on me. He asked detailed questions, performed a thorough examination, and patiently listened to every symptom I described. He consulted with specialists over the phone, reviewed my medical history, and meticulously analyzed the situation. His dedication and attentiveness were palpable. Dr. Hussain didn't rush or dismiss my pain. He took the time to explain his thoughts and the steps he was taking to diagnose my condition. After what felt like an eternity, he finally identified the root cause of my suffering—a rare but issue that had been overlooked for the past 20 years.

He immediately coordinated with the hospital to get me the urgent care I needed. Thanks to his swift and accurate diagnosis, I received the right treatment and began to recover. The pain gradually subsided, and I started to regain my strength. As I was being transferred to the hospital, I couldn't help but express my gratitude to Dr. Hussain. I told him he had saved my life, and his response was simple yet profound.

He smiled gently and said, "I was just doing my job."

Those words have stayed with me ever since. To him, it was just another day at work, but to me, it was the day I got my life back. Dr. Hussain's unwavering dedication and compassion in that critical hour made all the difference, and I will forever be grateful for him "just doing his job."

As a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Standing Committee on Primary Care subgroup, our committee's consensus study report presents recommendations to tackle some of these challenges to help people like Dr. Hussain "just do his job"---and save lives while giving patients like me hope even when it seems all hope is lost. hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

Learn more about our insights and recommendations here with this awesome subcommittee.

Response to the Pay PCPs Act of 2024 Request for Information Read online, download a free PDF.

Primary care, the bedrock of our healthcare system, is crucial for all. The impact of inadequate primary care services on overall health is profound. Consider your last attempt to schedule an appointment. How long was the wait? Were you able to see the healthcare provider? If you did, was there sufficient time for the necessary services?

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Standing Committee on Primary Care held its first in-person public meeting to discuss these challenges and solutions with scientists, clinicians, and patients.

One of the key discussions revolved around the integral role of community health workers, peers, doulas, and 'medicine persons' in delivering high-quality primary care. Their unique contributions and the challenges they face were thoroughly examined.

We heard patient stories about people receiving amazing, integrated care where people live, work, and play. We also heard stories of patients not being able to get access to care even though primary care facilities were within walking distance. We also heard solutions. We know what works, so what are the policy levers to get what we know works into actual practice in a sustainable, equitable system across geographic setting and for all people?

Here is the recording to dive deeper into these discussions with leaders and innovators in the field.
https://lnkd.in/gsN-Nrxg