Discussing Loneliness and Social Isolation in Health Visits with PCPs
July 30, 2024
Physicians are requesting that primary care doctors ask patients about loneliness and social isolation at routine health visits given new research that suggests it could be as important as other typical well visit assessments like heart health, lifestyle factors, and more. Better addressing social isolation and loneliness in the health care system through screening, chronic disease management, and collaboration with community resources, can help position loneliness and isolation as a true medical issue.
“Patients should know that this is a common lived experience and may contribute to their emotional and physical health and health outcomes,” Dr. Mylynda Massart, founder and director of the UPMC Primary Care Precision Medicine Center, told ABC News.
“Recognizing, understanding and diagnosing social isolation and loneliness is only half of the equation; we need system-wide treatments to find the right match for each patient based on their individual needs, environment, and preferences,” said Dr. Massart.
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