Who are primary care physicians?
A person's initial point of contact with the healthcare system is a primary care physician (PCP). They are medical doctors who conduct routine exams, manage simple and non-emergency conditions like stomachaches or sore throats, and respond to all patient queries about their health. Additionally, they provide thorough and ongoing care for patients with any unidentified symptoms or health issues, whether biological, behavioral, or social. Further, PCPs consult other healthcare professionals and direct patients to specialists when they need a higher level of care.
Primary care physicians who collaborate closely with other medical specialists, such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinicians, make up a solid primary care team. A team like this can successfully meet each patient's demands and provide holistic care. These specific demands include acute care, long-term care for chronic conditions, health maintenance, rehabilitation, and preventative care.
You can visit the best primary care doctor near you if you have the flu, need vaccinations, want to stop smoking, need to manage your diabetes, or want to lose weight. They have the expertise to handle many aspects of healthcare but may refer you to a specialist if your condition requires more specialized care.
They help you manage your health by offering routine physicals, preventive care, and wellness screening services. They diagnose and treat common illnesses and chronic ailments such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension (high blood pressure).
Educational qualification and training of a PCP
Becoming and practicing as a primary care physician needs extensive education and training. The first step is earning a four-year undergraduate degree before enrolling in a medical school. These pre-medical undergraduate courses cover biology, chemistry, and other related topics.
Prospective primary care physicians then study in a medical school that lasts four years. Post-selection, students are required to attend anatomy and physiology classes in the first two years of the course. In the following two years, students participate in clinical rotations in different specialties of medicine, where they examine and study cases under the supervision of specialists.
After completing medical school with a Doctor of Medicine degree, doctors must complete a residency program in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or gynecology. These programs may take up to three years to complete. Besides training in that particular field, doctors also receive training in primary care. Upon completion of residency, many doctors choose to become board-certified in primary care by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Board of Family Physicians.
Types of primary care physicians
Various types of primary care doctors provide care to patients; here are a few mentioned below:
- Geriatricians: They care for the elderly, i.e., people over sixty. Arthritis, Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer, heart disorders, balance problems, and osteoporosis are all diagnosed and treated by these doctors.
- OB-GYNs (obstetrician-gynecologists): These specialists offer primary care to female patients. They provide medical care during all stages of maternity, such as pregnancy, childbirth, labor, and postpartum. Additionally, they care for women's reproductive health and diagnose and treat STDs.
- Pediatricians: They care for infants, kids, and teenagers. Pediatricians also provide primary preventative care, immunizations, and parental guidance regarding the growth and development of children.
- Internal medicine specialists: Internists provide medical care to adults and treat ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. They are experts in treating, identifying, and preventing illnesses and long-term disorders.
- Family physicians: These specialists can care for an entire family and provide medical care to patients of any age and gender, from infants to adults. They assist with several conditions and are generalists. They also offer standard preventative medicine and routine health screenings.
How do primary care doctors conduct a physical exam?
A physical exam is an essential component of any primary care doctor visit, whether you are there for an illness or injury or an annual exam or wellness visit. Doctors can learn a lot by talking to their patients, but a physical exam allows them to assess their patient's overall health.
A physical examination involves your doctor looking at you with the naked eye and magnifying instruments. They may also assess various aspects of your health through touch. Primary care doctors conduct a physical exam during a wellness visit or annual check-up, which usually includes the following :
- Examining vital indicators such as blood pressure, breathing rate, temperature, blood oxygenation, and heart rate
- Evaluating general appearance, such as skin condition, posture and walking, hair and nail condition, and other factors.
- Listening to your lungs for symptoms of lung disease or health issues such as asthma, pneumonia, or emphysema. These problems can be detected through crackles, wheezes, and other irregular breathing sounds.
- Looking for physical abnormalities or changes in the legs and arms
- Examining the eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, thyroid, lymph nodes, and arteries in your head and neck.
- Examining the abdomen for symptoms of any underlying issues. It may include touching and pressing on the stomach or listening to bowel sounds.
- Listening to your heart for any signs of a heart murmur, an irregular heartbeat, or other symptoms of heart illness or condition.
- Examining nerves, reflexes, muscle strength, mental alertness, and balance.
Find the best primary care doctor near you in Lafayette, Colorado
Since a PCP will be the first doctor you visit if you encounter any medical issues, you must be careful who you consult. Since primary care involves long-term continuity of care, choosing a PCP who fully comprehends your demands is crucial. You can rely on Zocdoc to help you find the best healthcare provider near you.
Zocdoc's user-friendly platform allows you to filter PCPs based on your criteria. The parameters you can include in your search are the area of expertise of your selected doctor, the disease or symptoms, your preferred appointment day and time, location, zip code, and your health insurance provider plan. Zocdoc will then search its database of thousands of primary care doctors after you enter your information and provide you with a list of the best primary care doctors near you, most suited to your needs.
Moreover, on Zocdoc, patients can view each provider's individual profiles that detail their training, professional background, and clinical techniques. Further, each profile also summarizes the provider's practice experience, specialties, certifications, licenses, affiliations, accreditation, and relevant professional achievements. Another essential tool that Zocdoc provides is verified patient reviews and ratings. These are displayed under each profile and are constantly updated, helping you decide. With Zocdoc, you may make both in-person and online appointments. Once you have found the best primary care doctor near you, go ahead and make an appointment.
Making reservations with Zocdoc is easy, secure, and free!
Statistics on the shortage of primary care workforce in Colorado and the U.S.
Texas Health and Human Services recorded the data for primary care physicians in 2020 and reflected that total PCPs during the year were just around 20 for a population of almost 21,273. Having the 24th rank, the primary care physicians to population ratio was about 1063.7; the proportion of PCPs to 100,000 population came down to nearly 94.0.
Colorado Trust anticipated this workforce shortage in its report. They quoted that if the current trends continue, by 2025, there will be a state-wide shortage of around 2,200 primary care providers. The main reason for this could be Colorado's aging primary care workforce. While new jobs for PCPs are expected to open by nearly 20%, the number of healthcare providers will shrink as aging PCPs retire.
Primary Care Collaborative reflects a similar national trend. Their new report published in 2020 confirms the growing shortage of PCPs in the U.S. By 2033, the deficit is projected to be approximately between 21,400 and 55,200 PCPs. This shortage could also result from an increasing population, leading to growing demand. By 2033, this population is estimated to grow by nearly 10.4%, and the U.S. population under 18 is estimated to grow by almost 3.9%. This expected shortage makes finding the right PCP with whom you can associate for the long term all the more necessary!
Sources
Texas Health and Human Services
Colorado Trust
Primary Care Collaborative
Cleveland Clinic
St. George's University
American Academy of Family Physicians
Beaumont
WebMD
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