Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder often thought to be represented as attention problems and abnormally high energy levels. At first glance, that description does not seem any different from the everyday behavior of 5 – 12 year old children. However, these symptoms can be missed in children. Overlooking those differences could limit access to resources and treatments that could help an individual avoid issues in school, work, and relationships in the future.
The patterns of behavior and challenges that come from ADHD vary in intensity from person to person. Some may have a remarkably high amount of energy and quickly become bored with doing task. Others may have an average amount of energy yet may need directions said to them a minute ago repeated to them several times. There are even some that do not experience any of these problems until they are placed in a situation that finally challenges them, such as a demanding job or graduate school. No matter how the situation appears, you want the signs to be caught and addressed before complications arise. But, in order for the signs to be noticed, time needs to be spent with the individual.
More Time, More Control
Recognizing the importance of time, the direct primary care (DPC) model works to promote more time spent with patients unlike the traditional insurance-based model. By eliminating the pressure and constraint of time during appointments, patients can freely share the details of their lives. This relaxed pace helps to build a strong level of trust between physicians and their patients. Since patients also have the ability to call, e-mail, or text their providers outside of the appointment, details that were forgotten during the visit can be sent to the doctor later. The ease of direct access to physicians helps patients feel more in control of their life. If you have questions about ADHD in adults, please contact Dr. Okoye and check out her blog post on the ADHD.
About Author
Dr. Chinelo Okoye is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a fellow of the highly respected American College of Physicians (FACP). She has further demonstrated her commitment to understanding how the latest developments in medicine can be used to help her patients by participating in the Maintenance of Certification.
She has garnered over a decade of experience from working as a Hospitalist at St Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, a Primary Care Physician caring for our nation’s veterans at Michael E. DeBakey VA medical Center, and as a Clinical Instructor for Internal Medicine residents from the Baylor College of Medicine. Even with extensive experience, she still believed that she could do more to provide her patients with the care they truly deserved. So, she founded Katy Premier Primary Care to do just that.
With the sole purpose of providing primary care the way it is supposed to be, Katy Premier Primary Care is practiced under the DPC model. Under this model, patients have a direct relationship with their physician and pay a monthly membership fee for primary care services with no insurance involvement. She believes that DPC is a model of care that returns to the way health care should be by putting patients first.