By Amy DiCresce Dr. Mann helps combat fragmented health care, a common complaint of disabled adults.
All patients face certain barriers in accessing appropriate healthcare.
Unfortunately, the barriers for disabled patients are much more complex. Nancy Mann, MD, associate chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation, developed The Primary Care Program for the Physically Challenged to begin breaking down barriers. The program is a collaborative practice model in which a physiatrist and internist provide preventive and primary care for disabled adults. Because they require more specialized primary care and expertise, they do not fit easily into the managed care system. Physicians, patients, administrators, and insurers need to work together, establishing ways to address their multiple healthcare needs.