Who is a primary care doctor?
Primary care involves having a healthcare system that can address an individual's medical concerns and illnesses while proactively maintaining their health.Â
A primary care physician (PCP) is the first medical professional patients may reach out to address their healthcare needs. They specialize in family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics to provide comprehensive care to patients. This care may include acute, chronic, and preventive care in outpatient and inpatient settings. Primary care doctors coordinate with the entire healthcare system to ensure the patient gets the best treatment and care.Â
What are the educational qualifications of a primary care doctor?
Before an individual can practice as a primary care doctor, they must complete an undergraduate degree in pre-med or other science fields followed by a degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine. After graduation, they must take competitive tests for their licensing, which include the first and second stages of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the USA (COMPLEX-USA) or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
After earning their license, they enroll in a residency program focusing on fields like pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics, and general surgery under the supervision of professionals. Some physicians may also get certification from the American Board of Family Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians.
What are the different specialties of primary care doctors?
After residency, some doctors may specialize further in a specific area, such as pediatrics or obstetrics, through a fellowship. Here are some common specialty areas:
- Family doctors: They treat people of all age groups and train in adult medicine, geriatric medicine, musculoskeletal care, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
- Geriatricians: They specialize in treating older patients, and due to their advanced training, they are adept at treating 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.Â
- Nurse practitioners & physician assistants: They are well-trained and qualified medical professionals generally working as a team under a primary care doctor.
- Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN): They specialize in women's health and have expertise in 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 have expertise in wellness, development, and treatment of disorders that affect babies, children, and teenagers (up to age 21). Many are PCPs for children, while others specialize in pediatric cardiology or neurology.
When can you see a primary care doctor?
Unlike other doctors, you don't have to see a primary care doctor only when you are sick. You can also see them if:
1. If you have to get an annual check-up, health screening, or vaccinations.Â
2. If you feel unwell, your primary care doctor can examine you, order blood tests, or make a diagnosis and prescribe medication.Â
3. If you have a chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, or asthma, your primary care doctor near you can refer you to a specialist for advanced treatment.Â
Internist vs. primary care doctor
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 check-ups, physicals, and vaccines, and treating and managing day-to-day, non-urgent health concerns. On the other hand, internal medicine is a medical specialty providing complete and continuing healthcare to adults aged 18 and above.
Primary care doctors are medical practitioners with whom the patient has initial contact before being referred to a specialist. In contrast, internists possess the required specialized training and experience to identify and treat minor and complex illnesses and injuries that most frequently affect adults.
Some general healthcare tips
Here are some tips you can follow to improve the quality of your life:
- Balanced diet: Always consume a balanced diet, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats. It can help minimize the risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
- Physical activity: Engage in regular exercise and physical activity. It promotes muscle strength and overall well-being. You can play, carry out household chores, travel, or engage in recreational pursuits.
- Adequate sleep: Ensure you get enough sleep. It is essential for the body's recovery, brain performance, and overall health. Inadequate sleep can lead to several diseases and disorders, such as obesity, stroke, dementia, and more.
- Safe hydration: Drinking water is vital, and so is its quality. Unsafe water can cause water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, polio, hepatitis A, and typhoid. If you are unsure about your water source, boil your water for at least one minute to kill hazardous organisms. Let it naturally cool before drinking.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol: Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to maintain good health and reduce the risk of related diseases. These include mental and behavioral disorders, lung and heart disease, and more.
- Regular health check-ups: Schedule regular visits to primary care doctors near you for preventive screenings and check-ups.
- Stress management: Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress are common today. Practicing stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing can improve your emotional well-being. Talking to someone you trust or consulting a mental health professional is also helpful.
- Personal hygiene: Maintain good personal hygiene practices to prevent spreading infections or getting infected. Examples include washing hands regularly and covering your mouth while sneezing or coughing.
- Sun protection: Protect your skin from dangerous UV rays causing skin cancer. You can wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors.
How do you find the best primary care doctor near you in Keller, Texas?
Are you seeking a doctor to get routine check-ups in Keller, Texas? Do you want to get treated for your headaches or migraines? If you need help with where to look for an experienced primary care doctor, let Zocdoc assist you!
To begin searching, create a free account on Zocdoc. Then, type the condition or specialty (primary care doctor), location (Keller, Texas), insurance plan, and your preferred date for an appointment. Once you hit search, a comprehensive list will appear based on your search criteria. If you need clarification on your insurance plan, you can use the Zocdoc insurance detector.Â
Each primary care doctor on Zocdoc has a comprehensive profile, which includes a brief introduction, education qualifications, practice location, patient visit reasons, and, most importantly, reviews and ratings by past patients. Furthermore, you can also filter out the search results by gender and preferred languages.
You can book video and in-person appointments on Zocdoc at your convenience with the best primary care doctor near you. For the former, look for a purple video icon on your chosen PCP's profile or use the filter for video appointments.
The best part is that all bookings made on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
Primary healthcare in Keller, Texas
As per the Texas Department of State Health Services, in 2019, there were around 1,760 primary care doctors in Tarrant County, where Keller is situated. The report estimates approximately 83.5 primary care doctors per 100,000 population in 2019.Â
The National Center for Health Statistics stated in 2020 that the leading cause of death in Texas was heart disease, with a death rate of 173.9 per 100,000 total population. This figure was followed by cancer in Texas, with approximately 42,142 deaths in 2020. Further, COVID-19 was third on the list of causes of death in Texas, with a 192.7 death rate in the fourth quarter of 2020. Alzheimer's disease was the fifth major cause of death, with a mortality rate 44.6, representing 11,918 deaths per 100,000 population.
Sources
American Academy of Family Physicians
Center for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Center for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Center for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
Center for Disease Control and Prevention[4]
Center for Disease Control and Prevention[5]
Healthline
Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas
Texas Department of State Health Services
WebMD
World Health Organisation
Verywell Mind
National Institutes of Health
