The power of coordinated care: How Nancy found support for her back and joint pain

What do you do when you’ve had to manage so many health visits, various specialists and procedures on your own? It can feel exhausting and overwhelming.

Navigating healthcare hasn’t always been easy for Nancy. For years, she’s juggled chronic discomfort, multiple doctors and numerous orthopedic surgeries. And often, she felt like she had to figure it all out on her own. 

“It was all on me to coordinate everything,” she said. “I had to really become savvy.” 

But when Nancy heard about the Muscle and Joint Care program from Baylor Scott & White Health, she felt a sense of relief. She had found a care program that connected all the pieces together for her. Nancy was able to find coordination and care for her chronic joint pain in a way she had never experienced before.     

“Having gone through so many surgeries before and being my own coordinator and trying to pull everything together myself, I thought, ‘This sounds amazing,’” she said.   

Finding help for chronic pain

Because of her chronic pain, Nancy needed a team of health providers who worked together to help her find treatment for her neck and back discomfort. Through the Muscle and Joint Care program, she had a virtual visit with a specialist—without getting shuffled around to multiple places. She and her specialist then jointly agreed on a plan to achieve her health goals. 

“There were so many different offerings all under the same umbrella— physical therapy, the pain clinic, the pain psychologist—all of the different components,” she said.  

Many people in the program start with physical therapy or medications (or both). Based on Nancy’s specific needs and health history, her personalized care plan—facilitated by her dedicated care coordinator—included a visit with a surgeon right from the beginning. Ultimately, she underwent surgery to fuse three bones together in her neck, known as C4 through C6.

“I can’t overstate also how wonderful it was to not have to see a bunch of doctors first to get to the surgeon,” she said. “I was just expedited there—that was huge. Knowing all of my options gave me the confidence that this was the right care for me and my health.” 

Because her providers are all on the same system, they were able to communicate and share notes in one place. And because everything is coordinated through her MyBSWHealth patient portal, Nancy can manage her care in one place, too.  

“I used the app all the time,” she said. “I was getting test results. I could read my notes after my appointments. I could refill prescriptions.”  

Coordinated care brings confidence 

Today, Nancy is feeling better and more in control. With ongoing follow-up and the ability to connect with her care team through the app, she feels confident in navigating her muscle and joint pain care moving forward. 

Like Nancy, people who use the Muscle and Joint Care program have access to coordinated and virtual care for their muscle and joint pain. Some of the program's services include:

• A diagnosis and treatment plan that considers your whole health history 
• Virtual physical therapy options
• Medical imaging and prescription management in one location 
• Support before and after surgery to relieve stress and anxiety 
• Personalized care both through a care coordinator and within the MyBSWHealth app 
  
  

"I felt seen and cared for, like I’ve really leveled up," she said. "I’m flying first class here."

Ready to overcome your muscle and joint pain? Get started today by scheduling your virtual visit with the Muscle and Joint Care program.