About Access Healthcare Associates

 

Matthew Lefferman, DO, is the founder and chief medical officer of Access Healthcare Associates. He completed portions of his Internal Medicine residency training at Hahnemann (Drexel) University in Philadelphia, PA and Banner Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Since that time, his professional focus has been the field of geriatrics. He has several years experience as a physician working in the home setting and in skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, he serves as medical director for a hospice agency and for a mobile wound care practice.

 

Access Healthcare Associates represents Dr. Lefferman’s vision that more can be done to improve the quality of life for seniors in this country. His unique blending of past experiences in medicine and the world beyond has given him the skill set and drive to succeed at this task through an innovative approach to patient care. Patients, family and facility staff take quickly to his patient, caring and calm demeanor. Dr. Lefferman has chosen to practice geriatrics because he loves the field, respects greatly the wisdom and vitality of our senior population, and enjoys connecting with and caring for senior patients.

 

 

Access Healthcare Associates

Core Competencies

 

·       Internal Medicine

·       Geriatrics

·       Podiatry

·       House calls

·       Post-acute care rehabilitation

·       Executive health and wellness

·       Wound-care

·       Palliative care and hospice

·       Mobile laboratory services

·       Chronic disease management

·       Telemedicine

 

 

 

The Need for Access Healthcare Associates

 

The AARP has called the current state of medical care for seniors a “growing crisis”. All segments of society, including the medical profession, must ask themselves if they are prepared to meet the unique needs of this growing population. To summarize:

 

·   By the year 2030, approximately 20 % of our population will be a senior citizen aged 65 and older.

·   The aches and pains associated with chronic medical conditions are a natural result of the aging process. 79 % of people aged 70 or older had one or more of the seven chronic conditions most common amongst seniors: arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, stroke and cancer. At the same time, 47 % had three or more of these chronic diseases.

·         Chronic disease states require frequent monitoring by trained medical professionals. Somebody who is between the ages of 65-74 years old can expect to go to the doctor approximately 10 times per year. After age 85, this number climbs to an average of 15 times per year.

·         Upwards of 78% of seniors report an inability to complete everyday tasks including bathing, eating and ambulating.

·         By 2020 upwards of 2 million elderly will be chronically homebound due to functional impairment.