If you care for a loved one with a chronic disease, no doubt you know that the system is sick. Four common chronic conditions — hypertension, asthma, heart disease and diabetes — present a significant public health challenge in San Diego.

Physicians who treat the chronically ill and people with chronic illness are increasingly dissatisfied with the health care process, including problems in communicating results of examinations, coordinating follow-up care and ensuring that prescription directions are followed.

A new AARP Public Policy Institute survey of chronically ill patients and their caregivers finds health care poses significant challenges for the 72 million baby boomers with chronic conditions.

Chronic conditions are often preventable and take a terrible toll on millions of Americans. Our fragmented health care system makes it incredibly difficult for chronically ill patients and caregivers to get the appropriate care they desperately need.

Poor Communication

The survey highlights the lack of coordination that exists within the U.S. health care system. Twenty-one percent of chronically ill patients felt their health care providers did not do a good job communicating with each other, and 20 percent said their health had suffered as a result. Uncoordinated care, among other factors, resulted in medical errors for 23 percent.

AARP’s report highlights problems that frequently occur when patients move from home to a hospital, between facilities, or back into their home. It found that poor communication between health care providers often results in medical errors or duplicative tests and treatments. Similarly, poor communication between providers and patients contributed to readmissions for 15 percent of patients.

Other findings were:

Twenty-six percent of chronically ill patients lack confidence in the health care system.

Thirty percent said their health care provider did not have the necessary information when they arrived.

Sixteen percent received unnecessary medical tests.

To address these problems locally, UC San Diego Extension and the county have been working with physicians, nurses and others to better manage the complicated treatment of those with chronic illnesses. The program, Team San Diego, emphasizes team-based care in a health care system that’s increasingly fragmented and built to deliver acute care.

Policy Changes