A primary care physician (PCP) is a healthcare professional trained to prevent, diagnose and treat a broad range of illnesses and injuries by providing comprehensive care. A PCP can address chronic long-term conditions and acute short-term conditions like depression, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, and developmental disorders. To become a PCP, many years of education is required with proper training. A primary care physician can practice in medical clinics, inpatient hospital settings, long-term care facilities, etc. Several kinds of physicians provide primary care, like family doctors, pediatricians, internists, geriatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, and physician assistants.
Types of primary care physicians
There are many types of primary care physicians. Here’s a quick rundown of how they vary from one another.
i. Family doctor
These doctors work with people of all ages. Adult medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatric medicine, and musculoskeletal care are among their specialties. Around 10% to 15% of patients in an average family medical practice are children.
ii. Pediatricians
Pediatricians get specialized training in the health, development, and treatment of diseases that affect infants, adolescents, and teens up to 21. Many doctors treat children as primary care physicians, while some may specialize in a particular field such as pediatric neurology or cardiology.
iii. Internists
Internal medicine doctors are specialists in treating adults. They, like family physicians, handle a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses. As a result, they are specialized in various disciplines, such as endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, and rehabilitation.
iv. Geriatricians
These doctors specialize in treating older people. They are exceptionally competent at treating sleeplessness, dementia, and balance difficulties due to their specialized training.
v. Obstetricians and gynecologists
Obstetricians and gynecologists are doctors who specialize in women’s health. These women’s health physicians are trained and experienced in reproductive health, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum issues. Like an internist or family doctor, some Obstetrician-gynecologists offer a wide range of general health services, while others specialize in female reproductive health.
Primary care physicians usually check for:
Primary care physicians are usually looking to treat the following health conditions:
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- hypercholesterolemia
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cancer including breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal
- Developmental disorders
- Status of immunizations to prevent illness
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Anxiety and depression
- Complexities of domestic violence
Services from primary care physicians
Primary care physicians perform regular physical tests, screenings, and childhood vaccinations. In addition, the following services are provided by these physicians:
- Physical examinations regularly such as wound or injury condition
- Medications tracking such as antibiotics and birth control are prescribed to treat diseases and family planning
- Treating minor illnesses and injuries such as seasonal flu and sinus infections, skin ailments, and sleep problems.
- Keeping track of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and depression
- Screenings for common medical issues such as lung and throat infection
Demand for primary care doctors
Primary care physicians are in great demand globally, and patients who visit their primary care physician regularly have better health. According to the “Association of American Medical Colleges,” the United States may face a physician deficit of between 54,100 and 139,000 by 2033, including shortages in both primary and specialty care physicians. According to a few studies, countries with a more primary care physician-to-population ratio had better health and lower death rates. Patients who visit a primary care physician regularly also have lower healthcare expenses than those who do not. Primary care physicians assist individuals of all ages, from the youngest children to the elderly.
Benefits of primary care physician
When a doctor is a primary care physician, they are “responsible for the complete treatment of a patient.” Routine checkups with the same doctor foster a good connection for the patient. Over time, the primary care physician builds a complete picture of the patient’s health, which aids in the more accurate diagnosis of diseases. To maintain track of any specialized treatment a patient gets, a primary care physician interacts with other physicians and healthcare workers. Further, the benefits of primary care physicians are as follows:
i. Medication management
Approximately 35% of Americans use at least one prescription medication from Canadian Online Pharmacy. When various physicians prescribe different medicines, there’s always the possibility of adverse effects when the drugs are combined. A primary care physician may act as a gatekeeper by keeping track of all medicines a patient takes and noting any dose or frequency changes that might result in undesirable side effects. Electronic medical record systems are now in use in physician offices which automatically flag drug contraindications, encouraging the practitioner to discuss any adverse effects the patient may be experiencing in the future.
ii. Time is saved
Issues that arise between yearly checkups may typically be handled promptly when a patient has developed a connection with a primary care doctor. This annual checkup can inform us about the early emerging health issues with their severity to be treated timely. This not only saves our money instead also saves our time for additional tests to diagnose the health issue.
iii. Prevention
The more a doctor knows about your general health, the more likely they are to detect health issues before they become serious. The primary care physician may use your entire health profile to suggest tests to evaluate your risk of acquiring illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. If you’re at high risk, your primary care physician may advise you on what lifestyle changes you can do to help reduce your risk and avoid becoming ill.
Primary care physicians are the healthcare professionals that manage and coordinate primary care for their designated group of patients. Many healthcare providers are under this category, including family physicians, practitioners, pediatricians, internists, gynecologists, obstetricians, etc. Primary care physicians are required to check and treat high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, depression, Insomnia, diabetes mellitus, cancer, etc. Primary care physicians monitor chronic disorders, screen common medical issues, and treat minor diseases and injuries. In addition, they do physical examinations daily to track the normal functioning of our joints, etc. These days, primary care physicians are in high demand due to their multiple benefits. They build a strong connection with patients, track the prescribed medication, and prevent more diseases by predicting before the critical state. As a result, it saves the expenses of additional tests for diagnostic purposes while saving your time. The most famous and prominent Primary Care in Hicksville is the ” Urgent Way” Walk-in-Medical Center,” which has trained and experienced primary care physicians to diagnose, manage and treat chronic and acute diseases. The best primary care doctor in NYC is Dr. Faika Khan, who provides her services in urgent ways. She can be reached via https://urgentway.com
