Case Study: Care of Visually-Impaired Complex Illness Patient with Non-Communicable Disease by Community and Local Public Agency Participatory Model Based on Principles of Family Medicine

Abstract

Background: Visual impairment can have a significant impact on a person’s well-being and quality of life.  Adapting to living with visual impairment. holistic, multidimensional services were needed.  This case describes caring for a patient with a complex illness, focusing on community and local public agency participation, including the role of health volunteers.

Case Report:  A 32-year-old Thai female patient with diabetes and visual impairment was unable to work, living with her husband’s family.  The patient was identified by a health volunteer visiting another patient.  The health volunteer referred this new complex-illness patient to the health-care team in the Primary Care Unit.  This patient required continuous care from the team. The patient and care team were involved in making decisions and prioritizing health problems together.  The visual problem was the most concerning, leading to the addition of a rehabilitation course for the blind with support from the local public agency.  Afterwards, the care team provided ongoing patient management using telemedicine.

Conclusions: Caring for a complex illness patient requires comprehensive care.  This case shows that the role of the Family Physician and multidisciplinary team in the Primary Care Unit improves quality of life and well-being by using technology for proper management.  Developing the potential of health volunteers and local public agency support patients can return to a better quality of life, taking care of themselves.

Keywords: diabetes, blind, participatory model, family care team