Population health and wellness is what Dr. Marc Fernandez focuses on in his primary care and family medicine practice in Lafayette, Louisiana. “Wellness visits are paramount. I make sure my patients are coming in at least once a year, and at that appointment we’re going over, not just acute problems, but also some of their risk factors, taking their age and other demographics into consideration to get them what they need for preventive medicine.” Having access to data that gives a better overall picture of his patients’ healthcare is invaluable in meeting their needs. “The metrics help keep us accountable as primary care providers to be in charge of and manage all that.” And when a specialist is needed, often in another city, communication between the PCP and specialist is seamless. “When the documentation is the same for the specialist as for the primary care provider, getting the numbers to match up with the patient care is more streamlined. We make sure that we don’t double-screen for something they’re up to date on, but also that nothing’s falling through the cracks.”