How do you go about choosing a primary care provider, and what exactly do they do for you and your family? Well, a primary care provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner who sees people that have common medical problems. This person may be a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant but is usually a doctor. This practitioner is ideally involved in your care for a long time. Therefore it is important to select someone with whom you will work well, a professional with whom you can easily communicate. A person who makes you feel comfortable when discussing all your health concerns.
Your PCP is your main health care provider in non-emergency situations but should also determine the urgency of your medical problems and direct you to the best place for care if a specialist is needed. The role of the primary care provider is largely to identify and treat common medical conditions and provide preventive care and teach healthy lifestyle choices.
There are different types of PCPs that may serve your medical needs. Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) are practitioners who go through a different training and certification process than doctors. In many cases they may be your key contact in some practices. Obstetricians/gynecologists are doctors who have completed a residency and are board certified, or board eligible, in this specialty. They are usually the PCP for women, particularly those of childbearing age. Internists are doctors who have completed a residency in internal medicine and the scope of their practice includes the care of adults of all ages for many different medical conditions. The Pediatricians' specialty includes the care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. And finally there are the family practitioners. Their practice includes children and adults of all ages and may include obstetrics and minor surgery.
Always remain aware that the medical profession is indeed a profession, and therefore a business. Many insurance plans provide financial incentives for you to select from a specific list of providers or limit the providers you can choose from. It is important for you to know what your insurance covers before starting to narrow down your options. Once you know what your insurance will cover you can think about getting referrals. There are many health plans, such as HMOs or PPOs, that have customer service staff, directories or websites that can help you select a PCP who is right for you. Advocacy groups especially may help you find the best provider for a specific chronic condition or disability. Ask health care professionals you may have visited before. And talk to friends, neighbors, or relatives about their health care providers.
When looking for that potential PCP it might be a good idea to to request an appointment to "interview" them. Some may want to charge a co-payment or other small fee for this, others may be willing to do it for free. If you do end up with an appointment don't hesitate to ask questions and get all the information you need. Take a good look at the facility, the staff, the overall appearance of the rooms and the medical equipment. Your enquiring mind should want to know everything, so look around and notice details. Is the office good about returning calls and is the staff friendly and helpful? Does the provider have an aggressive or conservative approach to treatment? What do patients and colleagues say about the provider? Does the provider invite you to be involved in your care?
If a health care problem arises and you do not currently have a primary health care provider, it is usually best to seek non-emergency care from an urgent care center rather than a hospital emergency room. This will often save you time and money. It also illustrates how important it is that you not delay in finding a PCP for you and your family. Being familiar with the the doctors, staff and facility in times of medical issues can greatly reduce the stress for you and your family.
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Your PCP is your main health care provider in non-emergency situations but should also determine the urgency of your medical problems and direct you to the best place for care if a specialist is needed. The role of the primary care provider is largely to identify and treat common medical conditions and provide preventive care and teach healthy lifestyle choices.
There are different types of PCPs that may serve your medical needs. Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) are practitioners who go through a different training and certification process than doctors. In many cases they may be your key contact in some practices. Obstetricians/gynecologists are doctors who have completed a residency and are board certified, or board eligible, in this specialty. They are usually the PCP for women, particularly those of childbearing age. Internists are doctors who have completed a residency in internal medicine and the scope of their practice includes the care of adults of all ages for many different medical conditions. The Pediatricians' specialty includes the care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. And finally there are the family practitioners. Their practice includes children and adults of all ages and may include obstetrics and minor surgery.
Always remain aware that the medical profession is indeed a profession, and therefore a business. Many insurance plans provide financial incentives for you to select from a specific list of providers or limit the providers you can choose from. It is important for you to know what your insurance covers before starting to narrow down your options. Once you know what your insurance will cover you can think about getting referrals. There are many health plans, such as HMOs or PPOs, that have customer service staff, directories or websites that can help you select a PCP who is right for you. Advocacy groups especially may help you find the best provider for a specific chronic condition or disability. Ask health care professionals you may have visited before. And talk to friends, neighbors, or relatives about their health care providers.
When looking for that potential PCP it might be a good idea to to request an appointment to "interview" them. Some may want to charge a co-payment or other small fee for this, others may be willing to do it for free. If you do end up with an appointment don't hesitate to ask questions and get all the information you need. Take a good look at the facility, the staff, the overall appearance of the rooms and the medical equipment. Your enquiring mind should want to know everything, so look around and notice details. Is the office good about returning calls and is the staff friendly and helpful? Does the provider have an aggressive or conservative approach to treatment? What do patients and colleagues say about the provider? Does the provider invite you to be involved in your care?
If a health care problem arises and you do not currently have a primary health care provider, it is usually best to seek non-emergency care from an urgent care center rather than a hospital emergency room. This will often save you time and money. It also illustrates how important it is that you not delay in finding a PCP for you and your family. Being familiar with the the doctors, staff and facility in times of medical issues can greatly reduce the stress for you and your family.
<a href="http://www.ocalafamilymedicalcenter.com">Ocala Family Medical Center.com - Ocala family medical center, doctors, physicians practice, cardiology, imaging and diagnostics lab, women's health, internal medicine </a>
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