While I like this proposal, it is only going to be effective if health care providers learn to ask better questions & create an environment of trust, so that the patients can open up. If the care providers are negligent (rushing through the appointments), the parents are negligent (because they don't understand the long term consequences), and the patient isn't honest & able to express themselves clearly (as was my case up until recently), it's not possible to be able to track the long term effects.

Even if it needs all these things to line up, I still think this is a good plan even if it CAN help more people receive the proper care in the long term! I didn't realize how much of an impact it had on me, and how I almost wanted to end things (over a decade ago), and how vital it is that care providers listen, take notes, and save that information into a system that is accessible by other health care providers in the future.

Until 4 months ago, I didn't know anything about what a primary care is SUPPOSED to do, insurance, referrals.....Everyone was negligent & dismissive (parents, medical professionals), so I became like them. Now that I switched to a new primary care provider, I have learned SOO much about what it means to care, trust, and what to do when doctor refers you to a specialist.

I've had multiple instances of TBI & SBI growing up and now, 20 years later I'm sitting here dealing with the consequences of neglect (not blaming others because I've also been neglectful). My new PCP listens & takes notes to everything I say, which made me realize how important it is to be open & honest, and it makes me feel valued. So I do the same when they're speaking, as I write down everything we discuss, so we can work TOGETHER to formulate a plan. When they referred to get vaious imaging tests done, I was skeptical at first because I was worried about the costs, but insurance covered almost everything, and I realized it was to get an understanding of my current health.

When I have labwork done, I'm not just given a report with terms I don't understand & numbers that tell me high, normal, low but what it actually means. When they refer me to a specific specialist, I trust their judgement & go and they've never steered me wrong. In the past 4 months, I've actually gotten more involved & it helped me quit my habit of smoking (which I'd been doing for the past 20 yrs). I'm only 35 so go figure.