At Greenspring, a senior living community developed and managed by Erickson Living in Springfield, Va., community members enjoy access to the Erickson Health Medical Group (EHMG) the largest and most completely integrated health and wellness system for older adults within the senior housing industry. This system includes the on-site medical center, continuing care community, security services, on-staff social workers, a variety of medical specialists, and on-campus fitness and wellness center.
At the heart of this care is Greenspring's on-site medical center staffed with four full-time, board-certified physicians, three nurse practitioners, social worker/counselor, and podiatrist, all specializing in geriatric medicine. According to the American Geriatrics Society, this specialization provides tremendous benefits including the preservation of physical functioning, improved social functioning, less time in hospitals and nursing homes, and higher patient satisfaction.
"Our phenomenal team of health care professionals is committed to providing our community members with the ability to maintain the highest level of function and independence," says Greenspring medical director Dr. Rizwan Dar, M.D. "We develop wonderful relationships with our residents and this enables us to spot potential problems early."
"The healthcare provided by the doctors at the on-site medical center is a huge benefit to living at Greenspring," says community member Steven Arpee. "Before my wife Janet and I moved, we spent all our time driving to doctor appointments. Our lives are so much easier now. If we need to see a doctor, we just walk right down the hall."
Timely care
Because of the unparalleled, personalized care community members enjoy, more than 80 percent of residents use the Greenspring medical center for their primary medical needs.
"Having the medical center located here, where our community members live, is a big blessing," says Dr. Dar. "Although our office hours are 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., one of our physicians is always available, 24 hours a day."
For those who wish to remain with the doctors they had before moving to Greenspring, there is no pressure to do otherwise.
"Our residents have the option to see a primary care doctor outside of our practice," says Dr. Dar. "And we respect that decision and honor their privacy. However, should they change their mind, or face an urgent medical need, we are here for them, ready to provide care and coordinate with their personal physician."
Bucking the trends
For those who chose to use the on-site medical center, the care they receive exceeds national metrics in every way. Greenspring providers schedule at least 30 minutes per patient, in comparison to the 12-minute national average for appointment times. In addition, the Greenspring medical center schedules same-day appointments, in sharp contrast to the national average of 24 days wait time to see a physician. And for after-hours care, a Greenspring physician is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And this care continues until a resident's health concern is resolved.
"It is a closed loop," says Dr. Dar. "Our hospital care coordinator works with our patients should they need hospital care. They determine when they are ready to leave the hospital, or move to skilled nursing or rehab if necessary. They are with them through the whole process. This provides not only continuity of care, but tremendous peace of mind to patients and their families."
Changing world
Never has this peace of mind and high level of care been more evident than during the months following the COVID-19 safety precautions.
"Throughout the pandemic, the Greenspring medical center never closed," says Dr. Dar. "And we learned a lot. During that time, we saw patients both in-person and via tele-visits. We were always ready to provide the care our community members needed."
"In April I was able to complete my six-month wellness check with my medical center doctor using the FaceTime app," says community member Roy O'Connor. "It worked well. I am in good health so it fit the bill."
Now, with the phased reopening of the community, Dr. Dar and his team are preparing community members for the cold and flu season.
"Every resident recently received a flu shot consent form to receive the flu shot," he says. "For those who agree, we are bringing the shot to them, right to their apartment home. It's just one of the many ways our team works to keep our residents comfortable while providing them with the best care possible."
To explore all the benefits of a healthy and engaged retirement at Greenspring, request more information today.