By Lois Thomson
You don’t have to engage in a long conversation with Dr. Pablo Alonso to realize the heart he has for his patients. Dr. Alonso is chief medical officer of Cano Health, which caters to the senior population in its 80 medical centers throughout South Florida and other areas of the state, doing so in what he calls “a very warm and family-like environment.”
Dr. Alonso said the care Cano Health provides is both individualized and personal. “All of us are individuals and all of us have different health needs that need to be addressed. The only way you can effectively address these needs and have good outcomes is by personalizing the care and tailoring it to that particular patient.”
Patients can receive care at Cano Health just like at any medical center. As Dr. Alonso said, “We can handle all medical and chronic conditions; whatever the patient has, we can take care of it. Just like a doctor’s office. We at Cano focus on health and prevention.” Patients can be scheduled for mammograms and screenings for colorectal cancer. Diabetics can make sure their blood sugar is under control to help prevent the complications of diabetes. He added that if something cannot be treated at the medical center, the patient would then be referred to a specialist or scheduled for a procedure. “We coordinate the care for our patients, it’s very comprehensive care.”
So, while Cano medical centers function like doctors’ offices, what’s NOT like a doctor’s office is the family-like atmosphere patients will experience. As Dr. Alonso explained, the human touch that occurs when a patient walks into a clinic is what makes Cano Health unique. “When you come into a medical center, you will see a warm, family environment. Even among ourselves, we are like family, and we take care of our patients that way.”
To enhance the experience, Cano has established wellness centers, where patients can go to engage in various wellness activities. “We have people who come in to talk about nutrition, we do arts and crafts. Some of our doctors talk about the importance of vaccines, now that flu season is coming on, and the importance of pneumonia vaccines.”
That’s why Dr. Alonso is especially pleased with the wellness programs, because he points out that many seniors in the community are alone – their families might be working, or their spouses have passed away and their children live in another state. “Our medical centers become like a second home to them. We have these wellness centers where we provide instructions on different aspects of keeping yourself healthy – and not just physical health, but also emotional health that is so important, because there’s a lot of depression among the elderly.”
In addition, Dr. Alonso said Cano Health is very culturally sensitive, with a tri-lingual staff that speaks English, Spanish, and Creole. “Because our communities are so spread apart in Florida, we have to make sure all of the patients who knock on our doors and want to be seen and want to be part of our family can communicate effectively.”
The care even extends beyond the clinics. Dr. Alonso said Cano offers telehealth, as well as a support line where a provider is on call. Morning and evening hours are available during which patients without an appointment can contact a clinic. “We will accommodate them. We are here for that. We also have a special program called Cano at Home. For those patients who have pre-existing conditions that may prevent them from being able to come to the clinic – there are guidelines to follow, but we will send a doctor to the home who will be able to take care of them. It’s an extension of our clinic into the home of the patient.”
As chief medical officer, Dr. Alonso said one of the most important aspects of his position is to support the clinicians and the staff to ensure the clinical operations are of the highest quality, and that they provide the highest quality of care. “We want our patients to have the best experience possible when they come to see us, and we want them to understand the importance of preventive care and wellness – to ensure their long-term health. That is an extremely important part of my position.”
For more information, call (855) 975-5119 or visit www.CanoHealth.com.
