Event 6: Primary Care Provider Recheck

Betty has returned to her primary care provider after 4 weeks of Home Health Services. These are the four questions the primary care provider is concerned about asking.

1. How are you doing with your right shoulder?
2. Tell me about the pain in your right shoulder
3. Compare your right shoulder pain and function to 4 weeks ago?
4. How are the home health services going for you?

This section covers 3 different scenarios:

1. Better
2. Same
3. Worse

Scenario 1: "Better"

Right Shoulder Update

Pain in Right Shoulder

Pain and Function Comparison

Home Health Services Update

 Test Your Knowledge: Scenario 1

Question 1

What medications do you recommend?

Question 2

What imaging do you recommend?

Question 3

What follow up services do you recommend?

Question 4

When should Betty be scheduled for a followup visit to her primary care physician?

Question 5

What additional services do you recommend?

Scenario 2: "Same"

Right Shoulder Update

Pain in Right Shoulder

Pain and Function Comparison

Home Health Services Update

Test Your Knowledge: Scenario 2

Question 1

What medications do you recommend?

Question 2

What imaging do you recommend?

Question 3

What follow up services do you recommend?

Question 4

When should Betty be scheduled for a followup visit to her primary care physician?

Question 5

What additional services do you recommend?

Scenario 3: "Worse"

Right Shoulder Update

Pain in Right Shoulder

Pain and Function Comparison

Home Health Services Update

 Test Your Knowledge: Scenario 3

Question 1

What medications do you recommend?

Question 2

What imaging do you recommend?

Question 3

What follow up services do you recommend?

Question 4

When should Betty be scheduled for a followup visit to her primary care physician?

Question 5

What additional services do you recommend?

Take Home Messages

1. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is a common painful condition of the shoulder resulting from contraction of the glenohumeral joint capsule. In an older adult, nonsurgical treatments may include analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Home exercise regimens and physical therapy are often prescribed.
2. Many older adults prefer a visual representation of pain for rating pain severity or impact such as the Iowa Pain Thermometer or PEG.
3. The Beers Guide is a source for medication review for older adults.