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Who is a primary care doctor?

Primary care doctors are qualified and experienced in comprehensive and continuing care for people with undiagnosed symptoms or health concerns. These concerns are not limited to their origin (biological, behavioral, or social), organ system, or diagnosis. They tend to coordinate with other specialists to offer their patients a thorough treatment, including preventive, acute, and chronic care in inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Primary care doctors provide comprehensive, affordable healthcare services in collaboration with a team of physicians and medical experts. They are accountable for addressing all personal healthcare needs, developing a sustained partnership with their patients, and practicing in the context of community and family. 

Primary care includes counseling, disease prevention, health maintenance, health promotions, patient education, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic and acute conditions in various healthcare settings, such as offices, inpatient facilities, critical care, etc. It is managed by a personal physician who usually collaborates with other providers and uses their assistance, consultation, or referral as and when required. It also provides patient advocacy in the healthcare system, helping them accomplish cost-effective and equitable care by coordinating healthcare services. 

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, such as the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the USA (COMPLEX-USA) or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

Once they get a license, they must enroll in a residency program that focuses on learning pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics, and general surgery under the supervision of senior doctors. Some physicians may also get certified by 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 primary care doctors may specialize further in a specific area through a fellowship. Some common specialty areas they can choose from are:

• 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. Due to their advanced training, geriatricians are adept at treating balance problems, dementia, and insomnia.

• Internists: 

They practice internal medicine and exclusively treat adults. Like family doctors, they treat several acute and chronic disorders and receive training in various fields, including endocrinology, geriatrics, neurology, rheumatology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation. 

• Nurse practitioners & physician assistants: 

They are well-trained and qualified professionals essential to primary care medicine who assist a physician in providing comprehensive care to patients.

• Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN): 

They specialize in women's health and have expertise in childbirth, postpartum conditions, pregnancy, and reproductive health. Some may also 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 primary care providers for children, while others specialize in pediatric cardiology or neurology.

What are the conditions treated by a primary care doctor?

As mentioned above, primary care doctors can manage and treat several medical conditions. Some common ones are back pain, diabetes, dizziness, vertigo, earaches, infections, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), headaches, and migraines. Additionally, they can help manage some severe conditions like heart diseases, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, insomnia, obesity, and pneumonia. 

Primary care doctors may also assist women in managing sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, birth control, pap smear, and vaginal infection.

What is a physical exam, and why is it important?

You should see your primary care doctor for annual physical exams (or wellness visits). These checkups help prevent diseases by allowing your doctor to identify early symptoms, reducing medical costs in the long run. A wellness visit includes the following:

• Medical history: First, your physician will inquire about any medications and supplements you are on, any past diagnoses, surgery, allergies, vaccination status, etc.
• Family history: They will then ask you detailed questions about the medical histories of your family members. This way, they can assess if you are at risk for certain diseases that can pass on genetically.
• Vital signs: Your doctor will begin the exams by measuring your vital signs - blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, and rate of respiration. They might also measure your height and weight. 
• Cognitive assessment: Your healthcare provider will test your ability to think, learn, concentrate, and remember. These tests enable them to diagnose dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and neurodivergence.
• Heart and lung tests: Next, your doctor will use a stethoscope to detect irregular heartbeat, heart murmurs, and other signs of heart disease. They will also listen for wheezes, crackles, or abnormally slow breathing. 
• Head and neck exam: They will check your throat, tonsils, teeth, gums, eyes, nose, sinuses, lymph nodes, thyroid, and carotid arteries for abnormalities.
• Abdominal assessment: Your physician will tap your abdomen to check your liver's size and detect the presence of abdominal fluids. They will also listen to your bowel sounds and check for tenderness.
• Neurological exam: They will assess your balance, coordination, and reflexes. 
• Dermatological exam: They will also check your skin, hair, and nails for abnormalities.
• Mental health check: Your doctor might check your mental health and state of mind, which helps them screen for common mood and anxiety disorders.

Additionally, the checkup will include the following tests based on your sex:

• Male physical exam: Your physician will check your testicles for lumps or growth, your penis for ulcers or warts, the strength of the wall between your intestines and scrotum, and insert a finger into your rectum to feel your prostate's size and check whether there are any abnormalities. 
• Female physical exam: Alternatively, they can check for signs of breast cancer and perform a pelvic exam, pap smear, and HPV test. 

When can you see a primary care doctor near you?

Unlike other doctors, you don't have to see a primary care doctor only when you are sick. You can also see them in the following situations:

• To get an annual checkup, health screening, or vaccinations. 
• If you feel unwell, they can examine you, order blood tests, or make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. 
• Your primary care physician can recommend you to a specialist for treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or asthma. 
• If you were in an accident or are injured, they can be your initial contact for further advice. 

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, vaccines, 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.

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 treat acute and chronic conditions in adults only.

How to find the best primary care doctor near you in Westminster, Colorado?

Are you looking for a doctor to get routine checkups in Westminster? Do you want to get treated for your headaches or migraines? Do you need help locating an experienced primary care doctor? Zocdoc can help you with all this and easily find the best primary care doctor in Westminster, Colorado, who will accept your insurance plan.

To begin searching, create a free account on Zocdoc and type in your condition or the specialty you seek, location, insurance details, and preferred date for an appointment. 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. 

Each primary care doctor on Zocdoc has a profile, which includes their brief introduction, education qualifications, practice locations, patient visit reasons, and, most importantly, reviews and ratings by previous patients they have treated. Furthermore, you can filter these profiles by gender, hospital affiliations, languages they speak, etc.

Once you have picked the best primary care doctor near you for your needs and requirements, you can book a video or an in-person appointment on Zocdoc at your convenience. Look for a purple video icon on your chosen provider's profile to determine if they offer virtual consultations.

All bookings on Zocdoc are easy, safe, and free!

Health statistics for Colorado

In 2020, County Health Rankings estimated an average of 1,189 patients per primary care physician yearly, marking a 1.62% increase from the previous year (1,170 patients) in Jefferson County, Colorado. 

The National Center for Health Statistics stated that in 2020, cancer was the leading cause of death in Colorado, causing over 8,252 deaths. It was followed by heart disease, with approximately 8,023 deaths. The chronic lower respiratory disease had an approximate mortality rate of 39.3 (deaths per 100,000 total population) in Colorado, amounting to about 2,490 deaths in 2020. COVID-19 was the third major cause of death, with a quarterly rate of 13.7 (deaths per 100,000 total population) in the second quarter of 2022. 

Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[4]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[5]

Cedars-Sinai

Deloitte

Healthline

Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas

St. George's University

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

Verywell Mind

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.