June 19, 2023 | Originally published in KevinMD
By: Earl Stewart, Jr., MD
Each day, as an internal medicine specialist who practices primary care, I care for patients who are experiencing the brunt of climate change. These patients have various medical conditions due to different causes. However, it is evident that greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, extreme weather, and heat-related illnesses are major contributors to the development and worsening of chronic medical conditions in the adult population. Electronic health record (EHR) systems are critical tools that help facilitate efficient and effective patient care. They aid in physician documentation, quick screening for serious medical conditions, and providing patient education at the point of care for additional guidance after each visit.
An excellent example of how EHRs assist in patient education is by providing examples of stretches for rotator cuff tendinitis, low-sodium diets for hypertension, and information about prescribed medications for weight loss. Some systems even automate the provision of handouts based on patients’ visit diagnoses, allowing tangible forms of education to be taken home after the visit, based on the discussed and planned information. I personally utilize these resources for every patient, ensuring they have access to high-quality, evidence-based disease education to improve their overall health outcomes and quality of life. Comprehensive patient education on preventive health and chronic medical conditions is crucial in primary care…READ THE FULL ARTICLE>
Earl Stewart, Jr. is an internal medicine physician in Atlanta, Georgia, a 2023 Doximity Digital Health Fellow, and a 2023 Climate and Health Equity Fellow (CHEF) with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.