Why do you need a Primary Care Physician?
Having a trusted Primary Care Physician (PCP) who you can turn to whenever an injury or ailment arises has many benefits. Benefits to you, your loved ones and the society!
A US-based study published in January 2019 compared the quality and experience of outpatient care for adults with—and without—primary care. They found that adults with primary care were around 40% more likely to fill their prescriptions and over 23% more likely to have a routine preventive visit in the past year, compared to those without a PCP.
Also, 11% more patients received high-value cancer screenings when they had PCPs. AND those with PCPs expressed greater satisfaction with their healthcare access and experience.
Types of Primary Care Physicians
It can be incredibly confusing to know exactly who to contact with a specific ailment. We are all familiar with the situation where we see a doctor and quickly get referred to a different physician. Some specialists you didn’t even know existed.
There are many types of PCPs out there who have different specializations. The specialization can depend on the age of the patient, their gender, or the condition.
Family Medicine Doctors
These doctors can care for the whole family, as is the case at PrimeCareMDs. Family doctors see children, middle-aged adults, and older adults. They know the family history and if someone gets sick, they will be your first port of call. If you have any doubts about who to contact, contact your family doctor – they will give you advice and (if necessary) refer you to an appropriate specialist.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians specialize in children’s health—children up to the age of 18. This is a rough number, many people continue seeing their pediatrician until their early 20s. The pediatric specialty is essential, because children’s bodies are still growing, developing and changing, so any treatment option must take that into account.
Internal Medicine Doctors
Internal Medicine Doctors are often referred to as Internists. These physicians specialize in providing care to adults. Similar to pediatricians, an internal doctor is a necessary specialty because most adults develop common age-related conditions, or suffer from similar lifestyle-related injuries/ailments.
Internal Medicine-Pediatric Doctors
These doctors are essentially ‘two doctors in one’. They are board-certified both in pediatrics and internal medicine. Often referred to as med-peds doctors, they take care of children and adults.
OB-GYNs
OB-GYN doctors are different from the above, because instead of focusing on the whole body and being distinguished by the age of their patients, they specialize in women’s reproductive health. The name comes from their specialty in obstetrics and gynecology. This specialty means that they provide care during pregnancy and birth and care with things like birth control, menopause, and preventative screenings.
As PCPs, these specialists will be your first port of call when a medical condition arises that isn’t an emergency.
A perfect understanding of your health and lifestyle
Having a trusted, highly qualified PCP is key to building a good long-term relationship with your doctor. Staying with the same PCP for many years, and even having your whole family registered with that practice, means that they will know everything they need to know about your health, lifestyle, and wellbeing. They will understand your concerns and maybe even notice changes before you do!
Harvard Health explains that those with complicated needs or chronic medical conditions benefit the most from a PCP team that can help with all aspects of their healthcare.
Reduced costs
A study published by the NCBI states that people with PCPs save 33% on health care in comparison to people who only see specialists. Others found that every $1 increase in spending on primary care results in $13 in overall savings.
Now that you know how much you can gain from having a Primary Care Physician, what is stopping you from reaping these benefits?
Learn more about our PrimeCareMDs in Baytown
PrimeCareMds is committed to providing high-quality medical services. Motivated by the need for more patient-friendly healthcare services we offer a wide range of medical services for diagnosing, treating, and managing several health conditions.
We are open for walk-ins, so we encourage you to visit our location:
PrimeCareMDs in Baytown
2655 West Baker Road
Baytown, Texas 77521
Contact us today for any inquiries and to set an appointment. We are here to help you lead a healthier life!
We are currently offering COVID-19 testing at our Urgentcare MDs locations:
For your safety and convenience, we are also seeing patients virtually with Telehealth.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.