From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Maria's Journey with Chronic Disease

Maria Rodriguez, 72, was juggling appointments with five different specialists for heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Each doctor prescribed different medications, and Maria struggled to keep track of everything. "I felt like I was drowning," Maria recalls. "Between the appointments, the medications, and trying to understand what each doctor was telling me, I was constantly anxious. I stopped going to some appointments because it was just too much." The Turning Point: Maria's primary care physician recommended enrolling in MyBr Health. Within a week, she was matched with a dedicated care team including a registered nurse care manager, behavioral health specialist, and community health worker. What Changed: 1. One Point of Contact Instead of five different offices to call, Maria now has one care manager who coordinates everything. "When I have a question, I call my care manager. She talks to all my doctors and gets back to me. I don't have to repeat my story five times." 2. Medication Simplified Her care team reviewed all her medications, identified duplicates, and worked with her doctors to simplify her regimen from 12 pills to 7. They set up a pill organizer and call weekly to check adherence. 3. Daily Monitoring Maria received a free blood pressure monitor, weight scale, and glucose meter that automatically send readings to her care team. "They catch problems before I even notice them. Last month, my weight went up 5 pounds in three days, and they called to adjust my water pill before I got really sick." 4. Mental Health Support The behavioral health specialist helped Maria address the anxiety that was making everything worse. "I sleep better now. When you're not constantly worried, everything else gets easier." 5. Social Support The community health worker connected Maria with a local senior center, arranged transportation for appointments, and helped her apply for a food assistance program. The Results: - One year without a hospital admission - A1C improved from 9.2% to 7.1% - Lost 15 pounds - Anxiety symptoms significantly reduced - Attends all scheduled appointments "For the first time in years, I feel like I have my life back," Maria says. "I'm not just surviving—I'm actually living. My grandkids say I smile more now." Maria's story isn't unique. Thousands of patients are experiencing similar transformations through comprehensive care coordination. The key is having a dedicated team that treats you as a whole person, not just a collection of diagnoses. If you're feeling overwhelmed managing chronic conditions, talk to your doctor about care management programs. You deserve the same peace of mind that Maria found.