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Who are primary care doctors?

Primary care doctors or physicians (PCPs) are certified doctors with extensive training and experience in preventing, diagnosing, and treating various illnesses and conditions among people of all age groups. They practice in multiple settings, such as hospitals with inpatient and outpatient departments, private clinics, group practices, and long-term care facilities. They are the first contact for patients to get medical help.

Primary care doctors also deliver immunizations and vaccinations and conduct routine health check-ups. They help detect severe conditions, such as cancer, early and make timely referrals to the right specialists for further treatment. They coordinate with entities across the healthcare system to help patients receive the proper care and treatment. In case of trauma or injury, they inspect and provide life-saving first aid to their patients.

They can effectively treat acute conditions like flu, cold, allergy, and bronchitis and help manage chronic ailments like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and chronic kidney disorder. Their broad knowledge allows them to provide patients with comprehensive and continuous medical care.

Training and qualifications for primary care doctors

To become a licensed primary care doctor in the US, one needs to complete:

• Four years of pre-med school
• Four years of medical school
• Clear the board exams conducted by the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Steps 1 and 2 or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing  Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA), Levels 1 and 2
• Core clerkships or clinical instruction
• Residency program with mandatory rotations in emergency medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, and inpatient hospital care
• Get certified by clearing the exam by either the American Board of Family Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians.
• Apply and obtain a state license by passing step 3 of USMLE or level 3 of COMLEX-USA to practice in a particular state in the US.

What are the kinds of primary care doctors?

Primary care doctors can provide comprehensive care for several medical conditions. Hence, knowing the difference between each specialist is best when looking for the best primary care doctor near you.

• Family doctors

Also known as family medicine physicians or family practitioners, they train in pediatrics, adult medicine, geriatric medicine, obstetrics, and musculoskeletal care. They check and treat patients of all ages in a family.

• Internists

They are also called general internal medicine physicians or internal medicine doctors (MD) and are experts in treating several acute and chronic conditions in adults. They train in various fields, such as orthopedics, rheumatology, geriatrics, endocrinology, rehabilitation, and neurology.

• Pediatricians

General pediatricians care for children from infancy to adolescence. They focus on developing wellness and treatment plans for conditions in adolescents to children till they turn 21.

• Geriatricians

These doctors manage all the conditions that affect older people, such as dementia, balance problems, and insomnia, to name a few. They are experts in treating patients over 65 years of age.

• Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYN)

These doctors train to prevent, diagnose, and treat all problems that affect women's health, including menstruation, reproductive health, pregnancy, delivery, and menopause.

What are chronic diseases?

Chronic diseases are medical disorders that persist for more than one year and require continuous medical attention and 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, three or more chronic conditions in a patient are termed multiple chronic conditions. Such patients represent the highest care needing category of the population because 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.

Multiple chronic conditions also have a substantial economic burden on the individual. According to America's Health Rankings, adults with five or more chronic conditions spend about 14X more on health care than those with no chronic illnesses. As per the latest estimates, for every dollar spent on healthcare, about 71 cents is spent on treating multiple chronic conditions.

Ways to lower chronic disease risk

Reducing the risk of chronic illnesses is essential to maintaining long-term good health and well-being. Lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking, eating healthy, avoiding alcohol, and regular physical activity can help you stay healthy and away from common chronic illnesses. Such lifestyle changes also enable you to manage your existing chronic conditions effectively.

By being proactive about matters related to your health, you can better understand your health conditions and learn to manage them more effectively under the active guidance of a board-certified primary care doctor.

How to find the best primary care doctor near you in Smyrna, Georgia?

It would help if you had someone to have open and honest conversations with regarding your health. Someone you could trust with your health issues, symptoms, and complications; someone you could bank on for continuity of care through chronic illnesses. A PCP does this, guiding you on the best practices for good health and well-being.

With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best primary care doctors in Smyrna, Georgia. Our platform has a detailed list of qualified primary care doctors.

The process is simple: Create a free account on Zocdoc. Enter the doctor’s specialty, your condition, location, date, and insurance plan, and then hit search to find the best primary care doctor near you.

A comprehensive list of doctors based on your requirements will appear after this—Zocdoc partners with qualified, experienced doctors across the US, including primary care doctors in Smyrna, Georgia. You can even use the Zocdoc insurance detector to connect with in-network practitioners. Further, every doctor listed on Zocdoc has a profile that includes a brief introduction, education qualification, practice location, patient reviews, and visit reasons. This ensures you have the information you need about a particular primary care doctor near you on a single platform before booking an appointment.

Moreover, you can also filter out the search results based on the doctor’s gender, languages spoken, etc. You can book both video and in-person appointments on Zocdoc as needed. To make a video booking, look for a purple video icon on your chosen primary care doctor's profile or use the video appointment filter.

Book appointments with the best primary care doctors near you who accept your insurance plan in real-time. Remember that all Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and 100% free!

Statistics on PCPs, chronic conditions, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Georgia and the US

As per the report published on America's Health Rankings website, as of September 2022, Georgia had about 243.9 active primary care providers per 100,000 population, which is lower than the US average of 265.3 per 100,000.

The 2021 data published on America's Health Rankings website states that about 9.8% of adults in Georgia reported having three or more chronic health conditions, almost similar to the US average of about 9.6%. Chronic health conditions include asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer (excluding skin cancer), diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, or heart disease).

Further, around 18.6% of adults (age 25+) in the less-than-high-school education group in Georgia reported having multiple chronic conditions, the highest compared to other education groups and slightly higher than the US average of about 17.4%. Around 20.4% of adults in the less-than-$25,000 annual income group reported having multiple chronic conditions, the highest among other income groups and lower than the US average of about 21.9%.

According to the 2021 America's Health Rankings data, about 6.6% of adults in Georgia reported having a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, almost similar to the US average of 6.2%. About 16.5% of adults in the less-than-high school education group reported having COPD, the highest among other education groups and higher than the US average of about 12.1% for the same group. 

Approximately 14.2% of adults in the less-than-$25,000 annual income group reported having COPD, the highest across other income groups but similar to the US average of about 14.6% for the same group.

Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians

WebMD

Healthline

Cleveland Clinic

America's Health Rankings[1]

America's Health Rankings[2]

America's Health Rankings[3]

America's Health Rankings[4]

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.