What is primary care?
Primary care refers to integrated and accessible health care that doctors and their teams impart. Primary care is responsible for addressing most personal healthcare needs. It is also concerned with developing a sustained partnership with patients and practicing medicine in the context of family and community. It is person-centered, team-based, collaborative, and sometimes community-aligned. It is always customized to cater to patients' needs and aims to help them achieve better health and receive care at lower costs than specialist treatments. Primary care is often considered the most accessible and high-value form of modern health care.
Who is a primary care doctor?
A primary care physician (PCP) or a primary healthcare doctor is a healthcare practitioner catering to patients at the beginning of their entry into the healthcare system. They become the focal point for all patient health care needs, including chronic, preventive, and acute care.
Aspiring primary care doctors must undergo a four-year undergraduate degree in medicine or related subjects like chemistry and biology. They must then attend a four-year medical school, where they may opt for various courses, including anatomy and physiology, and participate in clinical rotations to learn about the different areas of medicine. After medical school, aspirants must complete a three-year residency program in internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or gynecology. Some doctors practice post-residency, while others pursue a fellowship program for extended training in a specific aspect of treatment.
Primary care doctors are health managers. They work in clinics, long-term care facilities, private practices, and outpatient or inpatient hospital settings and may specialize in family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics.
Many see their primary care doctors for years and, over time, develop a bond of trust. Often, an entire family goes to the same doctor for generations, allowing the doctor to know them as individuals and understand their medical and genetic history. The familiarity provides added insight and helps the doctor deliver bespoke care.
Types of primary care doctor
Multiple types of doctors provide primary care, but searching for the right primary care doctor near you is crucial. Here's a brief explanation of how these types of doctors differ and how to locate the ideal one for your healthcare needs.
- Family doctors: They treat patients of all ages and receive training in adult medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatric medicine, and musculoskeletal care. In a typical family medical practice, children comprise 10 to 15% of the patient population.
- Internists: They practice internal medicine and specialize in treating adults. Similar to family doctors, internists manage various acute and chronic conditions. As a result, they receive training in a broad range of fields, including endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, and rehabilitation.
- Pediatricians: Pediatricians undergo specialized training that focuses on promoting wellness, facilitating development, and treating conditions that can impact babies, children, and teenagers up to the age of 21. Many pediatricians serve as primary care providers for children, while others specialize in specific fields, such as cardiology or pediatric neurology.
- Geriatricians: They specialize in treating older adults, demonstrating particular expertise in addressing issues like insomnia, dementia, and balance problems. The number of certified geriatricians in the United States is approximately 7,123, making finding a skilled geriatrician in your local area potentially more challenging than an internist or family doctor.
- Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN): Medical doctors who specialize in women's health are known as obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN). They possess expertise in reproductive health, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum conditions. Some OB-GYNs provide general health services similar to those offered by internists or family doctors, while others concentrate solely on female reproductive health.
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs): In some primary care practices, nurse practitioners (NPs) or assistants (PAs) may treat you. These skilled professionals, who play an increasingly vital role in primary care, must acquire a master's degree, clear a certification exam, and uphold state licensure to practice.
What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases persist for over a year and require continuous medical care. Some chronic conditions may even disrupt your daily routine. A few people may also suffer from more than one chronic condition, significantly affecting their overall health and quality of life.
According to America's Health Rankings website, three or more chronic conditions in a patient are termed multiple chronic conditions. Such patients belong to the highest care needing category of the population as each chronic illness requires additional monitoring, medication, and continuous care. Moreover, multiple chronic conditions also increase the risk of depression, mortality, adverse drug usage, unnecessary hospitalizations, and social, physical, and cognitive limitations.
According to America's Health Rankings website, adults with five or more chronic conditions spend about 14 times more on health care than adults without chronic illnesses. As per the latest estimates, for every dollar spent on healthcare, about 71 cents is spent on treating multiple chronic conditions.
How can the risk of chronic diseases be reduced?
Reducing the risk of chronic illnesses is essential for long-term good health and well-being. Lifestyle modifications, quitting smoking, a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, and regular physical activity can help you stay healthy and away from common chronic illnesses. It also enables you to manage your existing chronic conditions effectively.
Regular health checkups at the primary care doctor help to understand your condition and receive proactive treatment. It prevents the disease from becoming a major health complication.
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 checkups, physicals, and vaccines, as well as 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.
How to choose between a primary care doctor and an emergency room?
PCPs can diagnose and treat non-emergency illnesses and conditions. One must visit an emergency care center for more serious diseases or conditions that need immediate treatment.
For example, a PCP can treat ear pain, belly pain, mild wheezing, a persistent headache, or a lasting cough. However, you must visit an emergency room if you have suffered a severe head injury or a cut that won't stop bleeding. Similarly, the emergency room is the right place to go if you have trouble breathing, are short of breath, or have a stiff neck with a fever.
Visit the emergency room rather than your PCP if you suddenly get unusually sleepy, confused, or find it difficult to wake up. Also, you require emergency room care if your heartbeat is speeding and won't slow down or if you've ingested too much medication or a poisonous substance.
Why should you visit a primary care doctor near you?
Primary care doctors address diverse health concerns and are usually the first ones you talk to and consult when facing a health issue or bodily discomfort. They can help you in the following ways:
- Preventive care: Preventive care aims at stopping an illness before it happens. Common examples of preventive care include vaccinations, routine physicals, and wellness screenings.
- Early detection of diseases: Regular checkups can facilitate the early detection of cancer and diabetes. Suppose you visit your primary care doctor for complaints about the slow healing of wounds. In that case, they might suggest you undergo a diabetes test, diagnosing the condition in time and consecutively treating it. Therefore, seeing primary healthcare can help you prevent, diagnose, and treat ailments in time.
- Treatment of common illnesses: Primary healthcare doctors can treat diseases like back pain and migraines. They treat seasonal illnesses like colds, coughs, allergies, and stomach flu.
- Management of chronic conditions: They can also help you manage chronic (long-lasting) diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and hypertension (high blood pressure). A primary care doctor can also diagnose mental and emotional disorders like depression and anxiety.
- Although primary healthcare doctors receive training to handle all aspects of healthcare, they might refer you to specialists for focused care and guaranteed diagnosis.
Important tips to keep in mind while selecting a primary care doctor
Having a primary care doctor who provides continuity of care across all stages of your life is crucial. They not only help patients get timely preventive care and maintain overall health but also help patients save on future medical costs.
While seeking recommendations from friends, colleagues, and relatives can be beneficial, there are additional crucial tips that you should consider and verify yourself when choosing a primary care provider.
- Credentials and educational background are essential when selecting a healthcare provider. Your primary care doctor should have an MD (doctor of medicine) qualification or a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine). They must also be licensed in the state where they practice. The DocInfo.org search website allows users to find and check a doctor's board certifications, education, states with active licenses, and any actions taken against the physician. You may also verify a doctor's board certification. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has 24 Member Boards that certify doctors in 38 specialties and 89 subspecialties. This includes certifying primary care practitioners in areas like family medicine, internal medicine, preventive medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics.
- If you have insurance, choosing a PCP who accepts your insurance plan will help keep your medical costs down. If you do not have insurance and are paying out-of-pocket, you should speak to your doctor's office about costs before scheduling an appointment to avoid any surprise medical bills and plan future visits better. Also, note that several health insurance providers limit your choice to a list of doctors and require you to select a doctor from their list. Ensure you contact your insurance carrier for such information.
- Location is another critical factor in choosing your primary care doctor. Check if the doctor's office is located near your home, office, or school. If your area lacks primary care offices, you may also want to check for other facilities such as community health clinics, hospital emergency rooms, and public clinics instead of primary care physician offices.
- Some doctors practice independently, while others are a part of a group practice. Ask if you have access to other practitioners, such as physician assistants, and other medical specialists, for current or future needs. Additionally, you can ask the doctor's office if they have options like an online patient hub, where you can schedule doctor appointments, ask for prescription refills, complete all required forms, and communicate with the doctor's office.
- Check whether minor procedures or tests, such as X-rays, will be performed in the doctor's clinic or in a lab facility elsewhere.
- Ask your physician's office if they offer assistance for issues that may occur after hours, provide referrals, and if a medical query can be answered over the phone or online.
- Before choosing a primary care provider, you must also check if they accommodate your health needs. An individual's age, gender, life experiences, disability status, trauma, abuse, and specific medical conditions present unique health challenges that any provider must be well-informed about and prepared to accommodate. Inclusive healthcare means offering care that is not based on assumptions or stereotypes and includes equal care for patients regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, and economic status.
- If you happen to be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or are transgender, you must look for a physician who understands your needs and preferences. Providers practicing gender-affirming care respect an individual's identity and offer emotional and biological interventions necessary to support their well-being. Such interventions include counseling about coming out to peers and family members, assistance with changing outward appearance and gender presentation, medications, and surgery.
Find a primary care doctor near you in Scottsdale, AZ
A trustworthy and reliable primary care doctor can help maintain your overall health and well-being. However, finding a doctor that suits your needs can prove challenging. With Zocdoc, you can find the top-rated primary care doctors in Scottsdale, Arizona, with just a few clicks.
To begin, enter your location, specialty, and preferred appointment date. The search results will show a compilation of the finest service providers matching your criteria. You can filter specialists based on gender, hospital affiliations, and whether they treat children. Each provider has a unique profile where you can view their educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, practice history, certifications, and spoken languages. To help make a more informed choice, you may access verified reviews and ratings from prior patients.
Zocdoc also helps you find in-network providers by adding your insurance carrier's name to the search. If you are unable to find your particular health insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading your insurance card. Zocdoc will then scan the image of your card and show you a plan that matches it best. Note that you may only upload a photo of your medical insurance card. Vision and dental are excluded. If you are having trouble uploading your medical insurance card or need answers to other queries, contact Zocdoc's service team via chat, phone call, or email. For more information on insurance and related topics, make sure you check out Zocdoc's patient help center.
Once you select the best primary care doctors for your case, Zocdoc will assist you in instantly booking an in-person or virtual appointment for your first session.
All bookings with Zocdoc are easy, free, and secure.
Statistics on diabetes and asthma in Arizona
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System published data stating that the prevalence of diabetes among adults in Arizona was over 11% in 2020. In contrast, the national diagnosis rate for adults in the United States was approximately 10.6%. Corresponding figures for both populations in 2019 were closer, with over 10.9% of Arizonian adults reported with diabetes, compared to 10.8% of the general United States population. The differences in diabetes diagnoses for 2011-2020 between Arizona and the US were quite close, except in 2012 and 2013, where they were 0.9% and 1.1%, respectively.
Similar coinciding figures exist for asthma diagnoses in Arizona and the United States. The CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System suggests that approximately 9.7% of Arizonian adults reported asthma in 2019, compared to over 9.6% in 2020. Figures from 2011 to 2020 for the general United States population coincided with those of Arizona except in 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2018. The mentioned years showed an average gap of about 5.25% in the diagnosis of asthma between the two populations.
Sources
Healthline[1]
American Academy of Physical Physicians
WebMD[1]
Cleveland Clinic
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas
Nemours Kids Health
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
Verywell Health
Certification Matters[1]
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Healthline[2]
Association of American Medical Colleges
Medical Board of California
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