Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) provide primary medical care services to patients on a regular basis. They diagnose and treat illness, perform routine physical examinations and refer patients to a specialist if necessary. They help you to maintain and promote health and in order to prevent avoidable visits to an urgent care centre or hospital emergency room, thereby saving unnecessary time and costs for immediate medical care and out of pocket co-pays. PCPs fall into four specialties: Family Practice Specialists (treat patients of all ages), Internal Medicine Specialists (treat adults), Obstetricians/Gynecologists (treat women, particularly pregnant women), and Pediatricians (treat children). In general, a PCP is a Primary Medical Care Provider that helps you stay healthy and helps you avoid unexpected health problems. Hence, it is essential to choose a PCP with whom you can talk freely and confidently about your health issues. Determine your needs It is important to select a Primary Care Physician based on your current health and personal needs. The following questions will help you to determine your needs. â€Does your health condition require a Physician in particular specialized field? â€Should the Physician’s office be closer to your home or to your work? â€Do you prefer a Physician who speaks a specific language? â€Do you want a Physician who can be reachable anytime? Choose a PCP Based on your needs, find Primary Care Physicians that fit your criteria by asking your health insurance company, your previous doctor or friends, neighbors and family. Before choosing the PCP, you can call or visit the doctor’s office and gather following information: â€Is the Physician board-certified, trained and experienced? â€Where did the Physician attend medical school? â€Where did the Physician perform his or her residency? â€Does the Physician accept your insurance and is he or she accepting new patients? â€Are the Physician’s office hours and location convenient for you? â€How long will it take to get an appointment and how long is an average wait time to see the Physician? â€Who provides medical care during after hours or when the Physician is on vacation? â€What hospitals is the Physician affiliated with? â€What should you do if you have an emergency? Review the PCP After your first appointment, you can make a decision whether or not to continue with the Primary Care Physician based on the following factors: â€Is the office staff friendly? â€Are you comfortable with the Physician and the staff? â€Did the Physician communicate well? â€Did the Physician ask questions about your health history? â€Did the Physician listen to you and answer your questions clearly? â€Did the Physician treat you with respect? â€Did the Physician spend enough time with you? If you are satisfied with the physician, you may have found someone to take care of your health for decades.
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