In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos interview RN Viki Droegkamp to help new family caregivers get more support from their primary care clinic. Viki explains that your clinic should act as the “hub” for coordinating care, and not just be a place for annual checkups, noting that caregivers shouldn’t have to manage everything alone. She outlines who to contact first, when to call directly versus messaging, and how clinics can help with care coordination, triage advice, transitional care management (TCM) after a hospital stay, and referrals for specialists, imaging, therapy, home health, oxygen, and other services.

Pam and Linda also discuss with Viki the practical ways caregivers can reduce stress using MyChart (including proxy access), such as requesting medication refills, tracking lab results, reviewing provider notes, and staying on top of appointments and referral status. Viki shares key caregiver tips: keep MyChart messages short and clear with a direct question, avoid sending duplicate refill requests, and don’t rely on “Dr. Google.” She explains the common clinic supports that many families overlook, including help with prior authorizations, insurance coverage issues, preventive care reminders, forms, and driving safety concerns. The three outline clear next steps for caregivers: call your primary care clinic, ask what caregiver support services are available, and set up MyChart/proxy access to stay organized and informed.

Key Moments:

00:00 Primary Care Clinics: Your Caregiving Command Center

02:00 Who to Call First at Your Clinic

04:00 Call vs MyChart: How to Get Faster Answers

05:00 Medication Refills and Controlled Drugs Explained

06:30 Prior Authorizations and High-Cost Medications

08:00 Clinic vs Urgent Care vs ER: What to Do When

09:00 Post-Hospital Follow-Ups and Transitional Care

10:00 Referrals, Home Health, and Insurance Navigation

17:30 Managing Chronic Conditions Through Primary Care

22:00 Vaccines, Preventive Care, and Medicare Visits

25:00 Forms, FMLA, and Driving Safety Decisions

29:30 MyChart Tips: Proxy Access and Messaging Mistakes

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Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Prep Guide for Doctor's Visits

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