Our Services / Care Management

What is care management?

Care management is a service Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine provides for patients with multiple complex health conditions.

It's not uncommon, especially when you get older, to find you have not just one but two or more chronic medical problems that require careful monitoring and multidisciplinary support.

What conditions might require care management?

You're likely to need care management if you have a chronic or incurable condition such as:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Arthritis
• Congestive heart failure
• Cancer
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Dementia
• Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

These are some of the more common conditions that could affect you. However, many people have rarer disorders as well. Living with one long-term health condition is difficult enough, but if you have several (known as comorbidities), they can have a devastating impact on your quality of life.

Not surprisingly, patients with chronic diseases that require care management often suffer from mental health problems as well, like depression and anxiety disorders.

What does care management involve?

Care management aims to minimize the effects of your conditions and optimize your overall health. To achieve this, the team prepares a care management plan for you that considers the nature and severity of your medical problems and all other potential influences on your health, including:

• Your age
• Medical and family history
• Diet and lifestyle
• Work life
• Physical activity levels
• Smoking or substance abuse problems
• Alcohol intake
• Stress levels
• Environment

Your care management plan includes regular check-ups and any tests that you might require. The Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine team can call on doctors (including cardiology and rheumatology specialists), nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, dieticians, social workers, and dedicated caseworkers to provide you with everything you need.

How does care management help me?

Care management offers patients several significant benefits. First, your team can advise you on making changes to your life that would improve your health, such as quitting smoking, eating a more nutritious diet, and losing weight. You also benefit from the ongoing assessment of your condition in a familiar, welcoming environment.

You might need to undergo regular blood tests if you have diabetes, high cholesterol, a thyroid disorder, or take an anticoagulant medication like Coumadin®. Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine's care management scheme organizes your tests and check-ups, and the team works closely with specialist providers if you're under their supervision.

The team can also manage your medications, which you could have many if you have several chronic conditions.

If you're living with one or more long-term health problems, call Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine to find out how care management could help, or book an appointment online today.