Although there is general consensus on the need for, and value of, experienced, knowledgeable,
and dedicated physicians in the nursing home (NH), there has been insufficient dialogue
concerning the “value proposition” for physicians in assisted living (AL) communities.
We believe there are two overriding issues that have stifled this dialogue. The first
relates to the commonly accepted premise that the social model, rather than the medical
model, must be the predominant driver of care in AL. The second issue relates to the
variability of state regulations that have implications for the physician's ultimate
role and responsibility in the delivery of medical services in AL.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 27, 2017
Footnotes
The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are solely those of the authors and are meant to promote dialogue around a complex and rapidly evolving topic. It does not represent an official position of AMDA–The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
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Copyright
© 2017 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
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- The Role of Physicians Practicing in Assisted Living: What Changes Do We Really Need?Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationVol. 19Issue 2
- PreviewWe strongly concur with the editorial written by Katz, Kronhaus, and Fuller1 with regard to the recommendation that there be involvement of physicians in the care of residents living in assisted living (AL) communities, regardless of the state and the requirements within that state. Those of us working in this profession know that the description of AL varies by state2 but generally refers to residences that provide housing and supportive services, 24-hour supervision, and at least 2 meals a day to meet the individual needs of residents.
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