Who is a primary care doctor?
A primary care doctor helps prevent, treat, and cure common illnesses, such as migraines, sore throats, fevers, allergies and rashes, back pain, asthma, digestive issues (like constipation and diarrhea), earaches, infections, dizziness, and diabetes. They promote better health for everyone and act as caretakers for a person's overall well-being. They are experts in pediatric, internal, and family medicine.Â
Educational qualifications of a primary care doctor
A pre-medical or science undergraduate degree from an approved institution is the first step in the educational process to becoming a primary care physician. After that, students start receiving specialized medical training. This includes earning a degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine from an accredited medical institution and fulfilling a residency program that includes rotations in pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics, general surgery, and inpatient hospital care. They must then pass board examinations such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination.
Once a physician has completed all the required coursework and resides in the state where they intend to practice, their training is considered complete. They must then pass exams conducted by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians or the American Board of Family Medicine to gain board certification, i.e., a license to practice.
What are the different specialties of primary care doctors?
After residency, some doctors may specialize in a particular area within primary to become subspecialists. This can be done by undergoing fellowship training. Here are some common specialty areas they can choose from:
- Family doctors: They treat people of all age groups and train in areas like adult medicine, geriatric medicine, musculoskeletal care, obstetrics, pediatrics, etc.
- Geriatricians: They specialize in treating older adults. Due to their advanced training, they are adept at treating issues like balance problems, dementia, and insomnia.
- Internists: They practice internal medicine and treat only adults. Like family doctors, they treat several acute and chronic disorders. They receive training in various fields, including endocrinology, geriatrics, neurology, rheumatology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation.
- Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN): They specialize in women's health and can expertly assist with childbirth, postpartum conditions, pregnancy, and reproductive health. Some may provide general health services, like an internist or family doctor, while others focus only on female reproductive health.
- Pediatricians: They possess in-depth knowledge in wellness, development, and treatment of disorders that affect infants, children, and teenagers (up to age 21). Many are primary care providers for children, while others specialize in pediatric cardiology, neurology, etc.
Internists vs. primary care doctors
People often get confused between a primary care doctor and an internist and unknowingly use these terms interchangeably. Primary care focuses on everyday health, including wellness services like checkups, physicals, and vaccines, as well as treating and managing day-to-day, non-urgent health concerns. In contrast, internal medicine is a medical specialty providing complete and continuing healthcare to adults aged 18 and above.
A primary care physician is a patient's primary source for treatment related to medical concerns. They are medical practitioners with whom the patient has initial contact before being referred to a specialist. In contrast, internists promote health and provide preventive care, including recommended screenings and coordinating care with other specialists. They can treat acute and chronic conditions in adults only.
Primary care doctors vs. family physicians
Although primary care doctors and family physicians may have some similarities, they undergo different levels of education and training. Primary care doctors can specialize in areas such as internal medicine or pediatrics. Family physicians, on the other hand, have a broader educational expertise. Due to the range and depth of their knowledge, they may provide complete care for families, including senior care, school-age children vaccines and physicals, and early development care for infants and toddlers. They are also conversant with men's and women's health issues.Â
Common cold and its symptoms
The common cold, primarily caused by the rhinovirus, is a viral infection impacting the upper respiratory tract. Its most common symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a scratchy and sore throat.Â
Adults typically experience two to three colds per year, and the illness can be caused by more than 200 different viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common. These viruses are easily spread from person to person or surface to surface and can survive on surfaces for hours, even days. Once exposed to a cold-causing virus, cold symptoms usually take one to three days to appear and rarely occur suddenly. The symptoms commonly manifest in the nose and the head.
Nasal symptoms may include congestion, sinus pressure, stuffy or runny nose, a loss of taste or smell, sneezing, watery nasal secretions, and postnasal drip. Head symptoms include watery eyes, headaches, sore throat, cough, and swollen lymph nodes. Whole-body symptoms may include fatigue, chills, body aches, low-grade fever, chest discomfort, and difficulty breathing deeply. Cold symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days, peaking around day five and gradually improving.
If symptoms worsen after a week or haven't disappeared after about ten days, it may indicate another condition, and it is advisable to seek medical attention.
Why should you visit primary care doctors?
Unlike most other medical professionals, your primary care physician is someone you visit regularly, not only when you are unwell. Moreover, making an appointment with the best primary care doctor near you can help you in the following ways:
- Schedule an annual exam, health screening, or vaccinations if you have health concerns or wish to improve your well-being.
- If you feel under the weather, your primary care physician can evaluate you and conduct various tests, including blood work and others, establish a diagnosis, and issue medication orders.
- They can assist you in locating specialists if you are dealing with chronic conditions like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), diabetes, or hypertension and become a crucial member of your healthcare team throughout your treatment.
- If you get hurt or are involved in an accident, your primary care physician is often the first one you call. They help, even if you ask for guidance over the phone, and can also help you achieve your highest health potential.
Importance of preventive care for health maintenance
Primary care doctors play a crucial role in helping people through preventive care. They focus on addressing medical issues before they become severe, which can help patients save on medical costs in the long run and spend less time in the hospital.
Moreover, you can quickly adopt preventive measures with the help of regular checkups with the best primary care doctor near you. During the appointment, they will perform the following duties:
- Screening for current illnesses
- Discussing existing health concerns and medications
- Checking future disease risks
- Providing lifestyle guidance, including diet and exercise
- Recommending particular health screenings based on your age, gender, family medical history, and risk factor
Most patients visit their primary care doctors once or twice yearly, depending on their medical condition. These regular checkups help primary care doctors to identify and detect abnormal changes in your health or body. Some common issues include:
- Changes in stool or blood in stool
- Losing weight without trying
- Changes in skin or sores that don't heal
- Inexplicable pain that persists for weeks or months
- Cough or fever that hasn't subsided in a few days
- Lumps or growth on any part of the body
Early detection of diseases and conditions can significantly benefit patients through early treatment and better outcomes. Although some preventive care is standard, men and women have different measures for particular conditions. Accordingly, primary care doctors recommend the following preventive screenings at least once a year:
Women -
- Colonoscopy every ten years beginning at the age of 50
- Osteoporosis with DEXA scan and bone density screening
- Pap smear tests
- Skin health screening from head to toe
- Mammograms and breast exams (especially if you have a family history of breast cancer or related risk factors)
- Heart health screenings such as blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and lipids
Men -
- Testicular exams
- Prostate cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Heart disease prevention
- Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
The frequency and urgency of these screenings depend on an individual's age range and risk factors. Primary care doctors can assess the characteristics of your health issues and identify the necessary screenings.
How to find the best primary care doctor near you in Hackensack, NJ?
Primary healthcare providers ensure patients receive high-quality, comprehensive care to the greatest extent possible. This includes promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Instead of only treating a handful of specific disorders, it offers whole-person care for health requirements throughout the lifespan. Hence, visiting a primary care doctor can help you lead a healthier life.
However, it can be challenging to find primary care doctors who are skilled, informed, and experienced at the same time. With just a few clicks, Zocdoc can help you find the best healthcare professionals in Hackensack, New Jersey. To begin, enter your location or the specialty you seek, and you will receive a list of the top medical professionals matching your criteria. If you include your insurance policy in your search, you can find in-network professionals, i.e., who accept your plan.
If you can't find your medical insurance plan on Zocdoc, upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will automatically scan the image and display the most suitable plan for you. This feature isn't available for dental or vision insurance cards. If you face any issues while uploading the image, don't hesitate to contact Zocdoc's service team for assistance. Additionally, you can check out Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
At Zocdoc, we value our relationship with patients and doctors. Therefore, each listed specialist has a distinct profile where you can read about their educational background, board certifications, and clinical specializations. You can also know their areas of clinical interest, level of experience, and the languages they speak. Furthermore, you can access verified ratings and reviews from previous patients to make a more informed decision.
Once you have chosen the primary care doctor best suited for your needs, you can instantly schedule an online or in-person appointment based on their availability. All bookings with Zocdoc are easy, free, and secure.
Primary care statistics for New Jersey
The figure of active primary care providers per 100,000 American population depends on state populations, physician retirements, new physicians, and physicians who change specialties. Estimates made by the Health Resources & Services Administration show that as of 2021, nearly 14,860 primary care doctors are needed to meet US healthcare needs.
According to data collected by America's Health Rankings for 2021, the number of primary care providers per 100,000 population in New Jersey was around 214.6, much lower than the national average of about 252.3. This makes New Jersey one of the states with the lowest count of active primary care doctors in the US.
Hackensack is a part of Bergen County in New Jersey. According to the 2020 report by Data USA, the average annual patient volume for primary care doctors in Bergen County was roughly 847, down about 0.353% from the prior year (850 patients).Â
Primary care doctors can help manage chronic conditions in patients and provide them with the necessary medical attention to improve their overall health and well-being. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of death in 2017 in New Jersey was heart diseases and cancers, causing around 18,840 and 16,264 deaths, respectively. Chronic lower respiratory infections (3,227), Alzheimer's (2,829), and diabetes (1,908) were also among the top ten causes of death that year in the state. Therefore, the need for excellent and efficient primary care providers is ever-increasing.
Sources
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Healthline[3]
Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas
The American Academy of Family Physicians[1]
The American Academy of Family Physicians[2]
WebMD
World Health Organization
America's Health Rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
DATA USA
Cleveland ClinicÂ
University of Utah Health
