Most industries – from transportation to commerce – are now being revolutionized by advances in information technology. Hospital care is just beginning to leverage IT to do a better job for inpatients. Why not use these technologies to optimize the health of adults with IDD?
SOLVING OLD HEALTHCARE PROBLEMS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY
BY SUSAN ABEND, MD FACP
It can be very challenging to find good healthcare if you are an adult with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). In fact, many people stay with their pediatrician as long as they can because finding an adult doctor who is familiar with IDD is so difficult. While there are doctors and clinics that specialize in the care of adults with IDD, there are not very many. Unless you live near one and can wait for an appointment, they’re not generally an option.
Most people need to rely on local primary care doctors for their health needs, yet many surveys have shown that the majority of doctors don’t feel they have the training, information and skill to treat patients with IDD properly.