Do you have a primary care provider? If not, here’s why you need this go-to health care provider in your corner.
A primary care provider is a doctor or an advanced practice provider who is a general practitioner; they are the first point of contact for your medical care. You may think having a primary care doctor (or nurse or physician assistant) is only necessary if you tend to get sick a lot, or if you need a referral to a specialist. But even if you’re the lucky type who rarely catches a cold or flu and has no chronic medical concerns, establishing a “health home” is still important.
“Even healthy people need a health care provider,” said Dr. Melissa Scalise, of Vanderbilt Primary Care. Primary care providers like Scalise offer advice about preventive care and wellness to help patients stay healthy and reach their goals. They’re also there to coordinate between providers and to help manage any medical issues that don’t require specialized care.
Sometimes it can be intimidating to talk about your health with someone whom you don’t know. Primary care allows the patient and their doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant to build a working relationship over the long term. That lets patients feel comfortable enough to ask questions, discuss worries and share information about their health.
Don’t have a primary care provider? Here’s how to make the most of this important health relationship.
Establish care before you need it.
New patient appointments often take time to book. Once you are established, you can be seen quickly for a new problem. That’s a good reason to start seeing a primary care physician before a medical concern crops up. You’ll have fast access to care with someone you know and trust.
Schedule regular wellness visits.
Scalise recommends that all individuals schedule an annual wellness visit with their primary care doctor. “That’s when we discuss preventive care guidelines based on age and gender and any new screening recommendations from the different medical societies,” she said. “We also provide education for leading a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic disease.”
If a patient is smoking, for example, a primary care provider will discuss methods for quitting and determine if the patient needs screenings for lung cancer or any other conditions that could result from tobacco use.
Through your regular wellness visits, your primary care provider will also be able to stay current on your medical history, with a holistic view. These wellness visits review family medical history, and individual surgical history and medications, whether those are prescription, over-the-counter or supplements. A comprehensive record helps your provider inform you of risk factors for conditions and determine preventive measures.
If a patient informs their primary care provider of a family member’s recent diagnosis of colon cancer, for example, a primary care provider will discuss with that patient whether he or she should have earlier-than-recommended colonoscopies and what to watch for regarding changes in bowel habits.
Reach out to primary care when you have a health concern.
“A primary care provider is a person you can see to seek advice and get an initial evaluation,” Scalise explained. “Primary care physicians are well trained to manage both acute and chronic conditions, but if a condition requires further evaluation by a specialist, we can coordinate that.”
Even if you see a specialist, your primary care clinic still remains your health home. You can follow up with your primary care provider for help with understanding test results, discussing symptoms, monitoring how lifestyle changes are affecting your health and keeping track of when further tests or screenings are needed.
Communicating with your primary care physician should be fast and easy. Vanderbilt, for example, has the My Health at Vanderbilt app and online portal, where patients can message their health care providers with medical questions that may not require an appointment, ask for a prescription refill, review lab results, access medical records and more.
It’s important to have a primary care provider to oversee all of your healthcare needs. Click here to see the locations and options available for Vanderbilt Primary Care.
