- \n
- Missed or delayed diagnosis<\/li>\n
- Further disease progression that could have been caught and managed early<\/li>\n
- Potential for increased healthcare costs if more advanced or aggressive treatments are required because of delayed diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
That’s why PocketHealth has launched follow-ups as part of Report Reader<\/a>\u2014so you never miss a critical next step in your healthcare journey.<\/p>\n
What is a medical follow-up?<\/h3>\n
A medical follow-up is intended to monitor your health over time, after a specific course of treatment or procedure.<\/p>\n
After you complete any recommended imaging (e.g., X-ray<\/a>, ultrasound<\/a>, MRI<\/a>, etc.), a radiologist reviews those images and summarizes the findings into a report for your recommending physician to review. Sometimes, these reports contain specific recommendations for additional follow-up imaging, investigation or treatment.<\/p>\n
This could manifest in many ways, whether it\u2019s another imaging scan in a few months or a follow-up appointment with a specialist. Here are some examples:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A patient with fibrocystic breast tissue may have follow-up ultrasound scans every 6 months for two years to monitor cyst size and location<\/li>\n
- A patient with an ACL tear may need a follow-up MRI to ensure the injury has healed properly<\/li>\n
- A patient with a history of mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks) may require a follow-up with a specialist (e.g., neurologist) after a neurological CT scan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How do I know I need a follow-up?<\/h3>\n
Unless you receive a copy of the imaging report (and can easily decipher the medical jargon without a tool like Report Reader<\/a>), it can be difficult to know if and when you need any additional follow-ups. Your referring physician will generally review your results with you and identify follow-ups, including additional appointments, imaging or referrals. It can be difficult to keep track of follow-up recommendations and administrative errors can happen in today\u2019s overburdened medical system.<\/p>\n
You can easily keep tabs on next-steps in one central location:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Instantly accesses your imaging report<\/li>\n
- Provides definitions to key terms and identifies follow-up recommendations<\/li>\n
- Underlines and makes the word \u201cfollow up<\/strong>\u201d clickable within the imaging report<\/li>\n
- Includes a reminder pop-up with instructions on when to book any follow-up imaging or appointments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"medical](\"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Medical-Follow-Up-Navigator-Steps.png\")
<\/p>\nNo one wants to accidentally miss any diagnostic follow-up imaging or specialist appointments that could prevent or shorten an illness. PocketHealth gives you the tools and knowledge to advocate for your own health and take control of your follow-ups, which reduces the risk of missed or delayed treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to get ultrasounds once a year because they found cysts on my kidneys. Using Report Reader I can look at my regular imaging to understand what has changed and when it shows I need a follow up, I know what next steps to take.\u201d<\/p>\n
– Wanda, Chronically ill patient<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Why is it important for me to keep track of my follow-ups?<\/h3>\n
Having access to your imaging reports helps avoid certain issues that other patients may experience, such as scattered reports<\/a> from switching providers or a delayed recommendation to a specialist.<\/p>\n
And when you review your imaging report and recommendations before meeting with your primary care physician, you have the chance to educate yourself in advance, so you can prepare more informed questions and understand what follow-ups are needed.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re in control of your healthcare journey<\/h3>\n
Knowing what lies ahead helps you become a more informed patient, so you can play a more active role in your healthcare journey going forward.<\/p>\n
- Includes a reminder pop-up with instructions on when to book any follow-up imaging or appointments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n