Seniors

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Dr. Crowe's experience uniquely prepared her for solving the medical needs of seniors -- and their supporting families -- at home.   Our entire medical staff is all about making life easier for seniors (check our "Team" page).

We do it all: 

Doctors appointment, treatment, catheters, wound care, competency evaluation, x-rays, ultrasounds, extended easy consultations, specialist coordination, orders for visiting nurses and much more.   

Labs are a BIG problem for seniors. In addition to normal labs, we also can draw critical STAT labs and deliver those directly to the hospital laboratory.  We are one of the very few practices on the west coast who offer PCR tests for ALL of these: respiratory, gastrointestinal, wound cultures, urine cultures and more.  PCR identifies DNA of harmful bacteria -- even of bacteria that refuse to grow in traditional agar -- then PCR plus NGS (next genetic sequencing) QUICKLY provides antibiotic sensitivities that are impossible to get any other way.  Yes, Medicare WILL pay for these tests.  Most insurance companies too.  Or, PCR is even inexpensive as private pay.

Our focus on handling primary care and urgent needs in the home means we help eliminate unnecessary ER visits and transport.  

Medical staff are even even able to handle more difficult conditions in the home such as: 

• bowel impaction, 
• respiratory distress, 
• intractable pain, 
• and even discussions about when hospice is appropriate.  

We understand there are often multiple family members who want input into decisions about care. We are happy to meet families outside the home for a private discussion.

Pain management

The medical staff is conservative about recommending narcotics (only 5.42% of our census at our last count).  Medical staff are also open to discussing alternative therapies when medically appropriate.  We have had significantly better outcomes for cancer and orthopedic pain patients by avoiding opioids. 

Legal affairs

Competency evaluations can be done in the home when your loved one can no longer manage their own affiars -  or needs proof that they are still sharp as a tack.

Anxiety

We also have a great adult and geriatric psychiatrist to consult on complex medication changes, and who DOES make house calls as part of our team.

No rush.  Our extended consultation at your mom or dad's home means that our shortest doctor's appointment is longer than even the very longest Medicare-allowed time.  

While we do NOT accept Medicare for this extended access to the doctor -- all your lab tests, meds, visiting nurses, physical therapy and other services WILL BE ORDERED USING using the Medicare coverage you have available.

Years of  seeing patients whose needs had changed at home makes Dr. Crowe's team sensitive to the effects of: 

• difficult changes in routine
• the less-than-fun aspects of using medical transport just to get to another medical office
• physical exhaustion and potential harm from sitting in a wheelchair for hours 
• the need to listen more carefully

We know there are major changes at this time in your life. We are a house call doctor in Thousand Oaks here to help you.