You may have several doctors in your life, but the person who helps you maintain good health for the long term is your primary care provider. This someone provides health care to children and adults alike, from childhood through adulthood. A good relationship with this person can help you stay healthy, whether it's through regular checkups or emergency care if necessary.
Relationship
Your relationship with our primary care team is the foundation of your health. The primary care provider (PCP) is the person you see most often, and it can be anyone from a family doctor to an internist or pediatrician. They're trained in all aspects of medicine, including preventive care and chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma. They also have access to highly skilled specialists who treat specific illnesses or injuries—and they're likely to know more about these patients than you do!
Not just a doctor
A primary care provider is your partner, not just a doctor. A primary care physician (PCP) is the person who coordinates all of your medical needs and tries to keep you healthy through regular checkups and screenings. They know you well and have access to your complete medical records, which means they can help get the proper care at the right time for any problem or concern that may arise.
Caring for medical issues and helping you stay healthy
Primary care is the first point of contact for health and wellness needs. It's where you go for a checkup, annual physical exam, or other routine medical care. Primary care providers are the cornerstone of a high-quality healthcare system because they're the first line of defense against disease.
Internist or Pediatrician
Whether you choose a family medicine physician, internist, or pediatrician for our primary care provider, they can provide quality, comprehensive health care for you from childhood through adulthood. Primary care providers are key players in the healthcare system and should be able to address any health concerns that arise during this period. Primary care physicians often refer patients to specialists when necessary—for example, if they think it's best for the patient's long-term well-being—or if there is an immediate need for treatment (e.g., an acute illness).
An essential source of advice and guidance
A primary care provider is the first line of defense against disease when you're sick. They can help you stay healthy and avoid more serious health problems. Primary care providers are our family doctor, pediatrician, and internist—but they also work closely with other caregivers in their communities to treat people with chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease. The team approach has many advantages:
- It provides continuity between visits.
- It means that if one team member gets busy with another patient's case, they'll still be able to help out when needed.
- It allows everyone on board to work together toward shared goals (like improving outcomes).
He knows you well and has access to your complete medical records
Our primary care provider can help you with emergencies and sudden illnesses. They know your history to give you the best possible treatment for any condition. Suppose there's ever a time when they need to refer you to specialists or other health professionals. In that case, they'll be able to do that too—and if there's anything else going on with your health that could affect how quickly or accurately they treat you, that information will be available too!
You get the proper care and treatment at the right time.
The first step in getting the care you need is to find a primary care provider. Our primary care provider will be the person who does all of your initial exams and tests, as well as provides ongoing care for minor illnesses and injuries.
Primary care providers are a vital part of a team that can help you get whatever kind of treatment you need—from psychotherapy to prescription medication—if something isn't right. They're also trained to treat common conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses with lifestyle changes (such as diet) or medications (such as statins).
Making a good relationship with a primary care provider
Having a good relationship with our primary care provider is one of the most important things you can do to maintain good health. It's also a particular skill to develop because it allows you to actively participate in your health care rather than simply relying on a doctor or nurse practitioner (NP) who may or may not understand how best to treat you.
If you're having problems with our primary care provider, several things could go wrong:
- The NP doesn't know how to treat your condition
- The NP is too busy/bored at work/on vacation/etc., which means they don't spend enough time with patients
Conclusion
We hope that by now, you're feeling more confident about your potential for good health, and we hope that the best part of all this is that no one can tell you what to do or what not to do. It's your body, after all—and you know it better than anyone else.