The Importance of a Primary Care Physician and Continuity of Care
In this podcast, Dr. Scott Crosby, Medical Director of Bath Community Physicians Group, explains the value of a PCP, the doctor in charge of your overall health. Find out how a PCP can help you manage or even avoid common chronic diseases. Find the PCP that's right for you. Get tips on choosing the primary care provider that’s right for you.
Featuring:
Scott Crosby, M.D.
Dr. Crosby attended Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed residency in Family Medicine at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Crosby joined the U.S. Air Force and began practicing as a family physician. He realized his preference for combat medicine, critical care, and emergency medicine, transitioning to the field of emergency medicine. Dr. Crosby is no longer active duty but continues to serve our country as a flight surgeon with the Air National Guard. He enjoys being with his family in his spare time, studying the bible, reading, hunting, and fishing. Transcription:
Tony Martinez (Host): The doctor is in, but where are the patients? A recent study by Harvard Medical School looked at primary care use from 2002 to 2015 and found that 20 years ago in 2002, 77% of adult Americans had an identified primary care physician. A level it's dropped to 75% in 2015 and continues to fall today. Well, if the worldwide pandemic has taught us anything, it's that your healthcare matters more than ever. And having a primary care physician is critical to a continuum of personalized healthcare. You're listening to Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital podcast. I'm Tony Martinez. And here with us today tp discuss this important topic is Dr. Scott Crosby, MD, Medical Director, Bath Community Physicians Group. Dr. Crosby, thank you so much for being with us today.
Scott Crosby, M.D. (Guest): Thank you. It's a privilege to be here today.
Host: And what a great topic to discuss in light of what we just been through as a society, as a species, why are Americans opting now to do away with a primary care physician, doesn't seem to make any sense.
Dr. Crosby: Yeah, it doesn't. But I think, it's a move, for society as a whole. We're moving towards more convenience, more of an in and out retail, fast food mindset. And so, people aren't about developing that relationship with their physician anymore. They want to seek out healthcare on their terms, on their timetable. And I think medicine has been slow to adapt to society's needs. And so that's why we've seen that move more from that relationship with the family physician towards more of a consumerist retail mentality. And so, hence you've seen the emergence of the urgent care centers across this country, popping up everywhere. And so I think people are using urgent care as a replacement oftentimes for their family physician.
Host: No doubt, but let's face it, healthcare is not like going down to the grocery store and buying a loaf of bread is it? Why is having that familiarity with a primary care physician, why do you believe that's so important?
Dr. Crosby: Well, I think it's very important because for purposes of quality of care and actually cost of care, over time, the patient and the physician get to know each other. Not only the physician, but the physician's team, get to know the patient and what happens over time, as they get to know each other, you actually see an improvement in the quality of the care that's provided and a decrease in costs with that.
Just to give you a example of that, of improvement in quality and a decrease in cost, and this is especially important for people who have ongoing health issues or more chronic health issues. As new information comes available, the physician and his or her team does not have to go back and research old information, and try to get to know the patient all over again in order to make a decision. So, that improves quality. And what you see if people go from physician to physician to physician, what you see is oftentimes unnecessary tests are ordered, unnecessary referrals are ordered, sometimes unnecessary medications because there isn't somebody that's looking over that whole process, coordinating that process and really trying to get to know the patient as a whole person.
And so not only does this cause a problem with patient safety, but it also drives up costs, for the patient as well. So, I think it's really, really important that that relationship be fostered and that the physician and his or her team get to know the patient as a whole person. And that the patient develops that confidence in the physician and his or her team. And it really is a team approach too. And you know, the nurses are involved in that as well as the rest of the staff in that relationship.
Host: Yeah, it's great to go to your primary care physician. Feel like old home week. You know that the nurses know you, the doctor knows you and you end up having a real relationship with the team and the staff. And it seems to me that this is mostly an educational challenge that we have. How do you convince patients? How do you convince people? It seems it would be so easy to explain why quality is so much more important than convenience, but that's the real issue here. Isn't it?
Dr. Crosby: Yeah. It really is Tony. And that is one of the reasons why, I guess we're doing this podcast today is to help people understand the importance of finding a local family physician and developing a relationship with them. Even if you're involved in specialty care, it's really important that you have one person that's kind of helping you coordinate all that because if you're seeing a cardiologist, or you're seeing a surgeon, oftentimes those specialists don't talk to each other. And so one doesn't know what the other one is doing.
So, it's really, really important that you have somebody that's overseeing that whole process, making sure that you don't have med interactions or something that isn't ordered that you may have an allergy to. There's a multitude of reasons why you may want to have somebody overseeing that whole process and is involved with your specialists and getting, and coordinating all that information as well, because you may need further referrals on down the road too. So, it's important for someone to know what's been done in the past, what's being done now and then work with you as a patient on a plan for the future.
Host: You know, I think that's so true. And while it's so important for the doctor to know the patient, I think it's really important as well for the patient to have familiarity and knowledge of his or her physician. And I just think your background is fascinating. Our listeners may be interested to know that you were appointed Medical Director of Bath Community Physicians Group earlier this year. And I know that you've made it part of your mission to make us aware of this need to maintain a primary care physician. Do you think Dr. Crosby, that it's harder to do this in the small rural areas like ours, where you have such large distances to cover to get to your doctor's office?
Dr. Crosby: It can be. I think one of the challenges that we face and what we're trying to do is to improve access. What I mean, improve access, that means, being available, more to our patients. And I think that's why a lot of people are driven towards more of the retail medicine outlets because they're just looking for access. And so our challenge at Bath Community Physicians Group is to do that. So, when you call for an appointment, you can get an appointment. You can get in to see your physician. And I think that will help when you call on the phone, you get a live person on the other end of the line that can actually answer your questions for you.
And so we're working towards those goals. But a little bit about my background, you mentioned my background. So, I started out in family medicine and then while I was in the Air Force, I did some additional training in combat medicine and eventually transitioned into emergency medicine. And then, years ago I started my own urgent care, in Roanoke, Virginia, and owned and operated that, and worked there for several years. And so I'm very familiar with retail medicine as well. So, I'm very familiar with the contrast between family medicine and urgent care medicine. So, I bring that experience with me to try to have more of a retail mindset, but taking advantage of developing those relationships and improving access to care there at Bath Community Physician's Group.
Host: Well, first of all, thank you for, your service. We definitely appreciate that, but tell us how that military experience is helping you now in your leadership role here at Bath Community Hospital. You mentioned understanding this business much better, but it really is about really appreciating what you've seen in your life isn't it?
Dr. Crosby: Yeah, it really is. And one of the things that I noticed when I was working in family medicine in the Air Force was that I hate to say it, but they weren't really concerned about continuity of care there and they would just schedule a patient with whoever had an opening. And we want to try to make a concerted effort at Bath with putting you with your physician. I think that's so important, even if it's for something acute, you've injured your back or you have a cough that you need to have addressed or poison ivy. I think it's really important that you get in to see your doctor because they know the other things that are going on with you.
Whereas if we were just to put you in with whoever had an open slot, the other physicians would have the disadvantage of having to research your history, and look at all the medications you're on and they still wouldn't have a real accurate picture of you. And so, they could order a test or a medication that may not be of benefit to you. And so that's really important that we get you in to see your physician.
Host: So, to wrap that up, how do you think your experience with combat medicine has given you a better perspective to help the patients understand the importance of having a primary care physician?
Dr. Crosby: So, in working in combat medicine and emergency medicine, oftentimes we don't know a patient's history when we see them. And so we're at a distinct disadvantage. And so there's always that question mark, in my mind of whether or not I am doing the best thing for the patient at that point in time. And oftentimes I will reach out and talk to the patient's primary care physician to get the rest of the story or to get the whole story. So, patients, I think assume sometimes when they go see a physician that we have a crystal ball or that we're omnicient and we certainly are not. That knowledge of you as a patient only comes through the relationship over time.
Host: Fantastic information. And I'm sure we have a lot of people in the area who are listening to you now say, what do I need to do to find a primary care physician that works for me. So, give us the step now for someone listening to pick up that phone or to check you out online, what should they do?
Dr. Crosby: So we, have four clinic locations. We have two locations in Bath county, and then we have two locations in Covington, Virginia. Our two locations in Bath county are in Hot Springs, attached to the hospital there. And then we have a clinic over in Millboro. We are accepting new patients at all of our locations and we have physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners at those locations, that are available to take on new patients. In Covington, we have locations, on Monroe, our Monroe clinic, on Monroe street and then our Riverside clinic. If you will reference our website, the numbers to call and to schedule an appointment are listed there on our website. And we would encourage you to do that.
Host: There you have it. Dr. Crosby, thank you very much. A fascinating conversation. I really appreciate you being with us.
Dr. Crosby: Thank you, Tony. I appreciate your time today.
Host: No doubt. Well, that this episode of Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital Podcast brought to you by Bath Community Hospital.
You can visit us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or as Dr. Crosby said, you can call us directly at (540) 839-7319. Again, that number is 540-839-7319 for more information on helping you choose a primary care physician. In addition, please remember to subscribe, rate and review this podcast and all the other Bath Community Hospital podcasts. For more health tips and updates follow us on your social media channels. This has been Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital podcast. And I'm your host Tony Martinez. Hope you have a great day.
Tony Martinez (Host): The doctor is in, but where are the patients? A recent study by Harvard Medical School looked at primary care use from 2002 to 2015 and found that 20 years ago in 2002, 77% of adult Americans had an identified primary care physician. A level it's dropped to 75% in 2015 and continues to fall today. Well, if the worldwide pandemic has taught us anything, it's that your healthcare matters more than ever. And having a primary care physician is critical to a continuum of personalized healthcare. You're listening to Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital podcast. I'm Tony Martinez. And here with us today tp discuss this important topic is Dr. Scott Crosby, MD, Medical Director, Bath Community Physicians Group. Dr. Crosby, thank you so much for being with us today.
Scott Crosby, M.D. (Guest): Thank you. It's a privilege to be here today.
Host: And what a great topic to discuss in light of what we just been through as a society, as a species, why are Americans opting now to do away with a primary care physician, doesn't seem to make any sense.
Dr. Crosby: Yeah, it doesn't. But I think, it's a move, for society as a whole. We're moving towards more convenience, more of an in and out retail, fast food mindset. And so, people aren't about developing that relationship with their physician anymore. They want to seek out healthcare on their terms, on their timetable. And I think medicine has been slow to adapt to society's needs. And so that's why we've seen that move more from that relationship with the family physician towards more of a consumerist retail mentality. And so, hence you've seen the emergence of the urgent care centers across this country, popping up everywhere. And so I think people are using urgent care as a replacement oftentimes for their family physician.
Host: No doubt, but let's face it, healthcare is not like going down to the grocery store and buying a loaf of bread is it? Why is having that familiarity with a primary care physician, why do you believe that's so important?
Dr. Crosby: Well, I think it's very important because for purposes of quality of care and actually cost of care, over time, the patient and the physician get to know each other. Not only the physician, but the physician's team, get to know the patient and what happens over time, as they get to know each other, you actually see an improvement in the quality of the care that's provided and a decrease in costs with that.
Just to give you a example of that, of improvement in quality and a decrease in cost, and this is especially important for people who have ongoing health issues or more chronic health issues. As new information comes available, the physician and his or her team does not have to go back and research old information, and try to get to know the patient all over again in order to make a decision. So, that improves quality. And what you see if people go from physician to physician to physician, what you see is oftentimes unnecessary tests are ordered, unnecessary referrals are ordered, sometimes unnecessary medications because there isn't somebody that's looking over that whole process, coordinating that process and really trying to get to know the patient as a whole person.
And so not only does this cause a problem with patient safety, but it also drives up costs, for the patient as well. So, I think it's really, really important that that relationship be fostered and that the physician and his or her team get to know the patient as a whole person. And that the patient develops that confidence in the physician and his or her team. And it really is a team approach too. And you know, the nurses are involved in that as well as the rest of the staff in that relationship.
Host: Yeah, it's great to go to your primary care physician. Feel like old home week. You know that the nurses know you, the doctor knows you and you end up having a real relationship with the team and the staff. And it seems to me that this is mostly an educational challenge that we have. How do you convince patients? How do you convince people? It seems it would be so easy to explain why quality is so much more important than convenience, but that's the real issue here. Isn't it?
Dr. Crosby: Yeah. It really is Tony. And that is one of the reasons why, I guess we're doing this podcast today is to help people understand the importance of finding a local family physician and developing a relationship with them. Even if you're involved in specialty care, it's really important that you have one person that's kind of helping you coordinate all that because if you're seeing a cardiologist, or you're seeing a surgeon, oftentimes those specialists don't talk to each other. And so one doesn't know what the other one is doing.
So, it's really, really important that you have somebody that's overseeing that whole process, making sure that you don't have med interactions or something that isn't ordered that you may have an allergy to. There's a multitude of reasons why you may want to have somebody overseeing that whole process and is involved with your specialists and getting, and coordinating all that information as well, because you may need further referrals on down the road too. So, it's important for someone to know what's been done in the past, what's being done now and then work with you as a patient on a plan for the future.
Host: You know, I think that's so true. And while it's so important for the doctor to know the patient, I think it's really important as well for the patient to have familiarity and knowledge of his or her physician. And I just think your background is fascinating. Our listeners may be interested to know that you were appointed Medical Director of Bath Community Physicians Group earlier this year. And I know that you've made it part of your mission to make us aware of this need to maintain a primary care physician. Do you think Dr. Crosby, that it's harder to do this in the small rural areas like ours, where you have such large distances to cover to get to your doctor's office?
Dr. Crosby: It can be. I think one of the challenges that we face and what we're trying to do is to improve access. What I mean, improve access, that means, being available, more to our patients. And I think that's why a lot of people are driven towards more of the retail medicine outlets because they're just looking for access. And so our challenge at Bath Community Physicians Group is to do that. So, when you call for an appointment, you can get an appointment. You can get in to see your physician. And I think that will help when you call on the phone, you get a live person on the other end of the line that can actually answer your questions for you.
And so we're working towards those goals. But a little bit about my background, you mentioned my background. So, I started out in family medicine and then while I was in the Air Force, I did some additional training in combat medicine and eventually transitioned into emergency medicine. And then, years ago I started my own urgent care, in Roanoke, Virginia, and owned and operated that, and worked there for several years. And so I'm very familiar with retail medicine as well. So, I'm very familiar with the contrast between family medicine and urgent care medicine. So, I bring that experience with me to try to have more of a retail mindset, but taking advantage of developing those relationships and improving access to care there at Bath Community Physician's Group.
Host: Well, first of all, thank you for, your service. We definitely appreciate that, but tell us how that military experience is helping you now in your leadership role here at Bath Community Hospital. You mentioned understanding this business much better, but it really is about really appreciating what you've seen in your life isn't it?
Dr. Crosby: Yeah, it really is. And one of the things that I noticed when I was working in family medicine in the Air Force was that I hate to say it, but they weren't really concerned about continuity of care there and they would just schedule a patient with whoever had an opening. And we want to try to make a concerted effort at Bath with putting you with your physician. I think that's so important, even if it's for something acute, you've injured your back or you have a cough that you need to have addressed or poison ivy. I think it's really important that you get in to see your doctor because they know the other things that are going on with you.
Whereas if we were just to put you in with whoever had an open slot, the other physicians would have the disadvantage of having to research your history, and look at all the medications you're on and they still wouldn't have a real accurate picture of you. And so, they could order a test or a medication that may not be of benefit to you. And so that's really important that we get you in to see your physician.
Host: So, to wrap that up, how do you think your experience with combat medicine has given you a better perspective to help the patients understand the importance of having a primary care physician?
Dr. Crosby: So, in working in combat medicine and emergency medicine, oftentimes we don't know a patient's history when we see them. And so we're at a distinct disadvantage. And so there's always that question mark, in my mind of whether or not I am doing the best thing for the patient at that point in time. And oftentimes I will reach out and talk to the patient's primary care physician to get the rest of the story or to get the whole story. So, patients, I think assume sometimes when they go see a physician that we have a crystal ball or that we're omnicient and we certainly are not. That knowledge of you as a patient only comes through the relationship over time.
Host: Fantastic information. And I'm sure we have a lot of people in the area who are listening to you now say, what do I need to do to find a primary care physician that works for me. So, give us the step now for someone listening to pick up that phone or to check you out online, what should they do?
Dr. Crosby: So we, have four clinic locations. We have two locations in Bath county, and then we have two locations in Covington, Virginia. Our two locations in Bath county are in Hot Springs, attached to the hospital there. And then we have a clinic over in Millboro. We are accepting new patients at all of our locations and we have physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners at those locations, that are available to take on new patients. In Covington, we have locations, on Monroe, our Monroe clinic, on Monroe street and then our Riverside clinic. If you will reference our website, the numbers to call and to schedule an appointment are listed there on our website. And we would encourage you to do that.
Host: There you have it. Dr. Crosby, thank you very much. A fascinating conversation. I really appreciate you being with us.
Dr. Crosby: Thank you, Tony. I appreciate your time today.
Host: No doubt. Well, that this episode of Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital Podcast brought to you by Bath Community Hospital.
You can visit us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or as Dr. Crosby said, you can call us directly at (540) 839-7319. Again, that number is 540-839-7319 for more information on helping you choose a primary care physician. In addition, please remember to subscribe, rate and review this podcast and all the other Bath Community Hospital podcasts. For more health tips and updates follow us on your social media channels. This has been Your Health Is Our Passion, a Bath Community Hospital podcast. And I'm your host Tony Martinez. Hope you have a great day.