The term “primary care provider” is commonly used in healthcare. But what exactly is it, and why is it so important that you have one? Primary care providers are doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants that serve as your main medical contact. In fact, a primary care provider — who may come from family medicine or internal medicine, depending on your needs — specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing a wide variety of conditions.
Without a primary care provider, you may either ignore medical problems or visit the emergency room for an illness that doesn’t really require emergency care. Neither is an ideal choice! Having a primary care provider helps you focus more on staying healthy, instead of only seeking help when you are sick or hurt. Your practitioner becomes your health coach, showing you better ways to stay healthy and live longer. Here are seven main reasons to find a primary care provider or PCP:
1. Provide Acute Care
Primary care can diagnose and treat up to 85% of issues that present to them without a referral. Building a trusting relationship is important in acute and ongoing medical care.
2.Better Preventive Care
One of the main responsibilities of a PCP is preventive care. A PCP can make recommendations that will help you protect your health. The practitioner can get to know you, your history, and family history. This enables them to make the best recommendations for needed screenings and to identify and treat many minor problems before they become major ones. Their office will also keep an accurate record of your vaccinations, ensuring you stay up to date on this crucial preventive tactic.
3. Continuity of Care
Having a competent PCP offers a continuity of care that long-term health maintenance requires. The practitioner can treat the “whole person,” taking into account your history and existing conditions. Timely diagnosis increases the chances that you will be able to lead a longer and more productive life.
4. A Central Point of Contact
A PCP coordinates information between other healthcare providers. All healthcare that is done by specialty providers gets funneled through the PCP’s office to assist when you have questions, or are getting multiple reports. PCP’s can also make sure there is no duplication of care and testing, and that nothing is being left out.
5. A Key Resource
A PCP should be the first person in the healthcare system that you contact when you have a question or a problem. The practitioner can provide answers and recommend an appropriate specialist if needed. They can also help you find other resources, such as support groups and classes.
6. Fewer Trips to the ER
Research has shown that regular visits to a PCP initiate more proactive healthcare measures and significantly decrease the instances of emergency room visits while also improving your quality of life. A PCP can offer options that help prevent you from making unnecessary trips to the emergency room. For example, your doctor may be able to answer questions about a condition, call in a prescription, or suggest a course of action that can be taken at home.
7. Coordinated Care = Better Quality & Lower Costs
As the medical, specialty, and mental health fields continue to change, coordination between your PCP and other practitioners has become increasingly important. Without effective communication between different healthcare providers, you may experience delays in care, misdiagnosis, incorrect or unnecessary treatment, and potentially higher healthcare costs. Part of the task of a PCP is to help you navigate through the healthcare system.
When you put the focus of your health on primary care and prevention, a PCP can better manage chronic conditions and keep you healthy and out of the emergency room. This is great for your health and your pocketbook.
Be sure to choose a primary care provider that is in your network.
If you’re in search of a PCP, make sure they are part of your health plan’s network. Choosing an out-of-network provider may leave you responsible for the full cost of the care they provide. You can look up providers in your network through our secure, online health portal, My eLink. This convenient resource offers 24/7 access to your health plan information. You can also review your coverage, check on claims and authorizations, print and request I.D. cards and more. Haven’t created a My eLink account yet? No problem. Signing up is easy. All you need is your Live360 ID card.