Why you should find a Primary Care Physician?

Who is a primary care physician? A primary care doctor or physician is the physician you first seen in case you have a health problem. Your primary care doctor will help you get the best care and also talk to medical specialists about your health case so that you can get the best treatment. He or she will be involved in your healthcare for a long time. You will always receive primary medical care in an outpatient setting just like you would do in a doctor’s clinic or office.

You may be looking to change your primary care physician or get a new one. Never be worried! To find a doctor near you is an important step towards managing your healthcare. Your primary physician is always your medical “Home”. This is the medical doctor you will visit most mostly if you have medical needs such as routine screening, non-emergency diseases such as sore throat and earaches, wellness visits and when you need someone to ask of health questions or concerns. Your health care physician is also the person who will refer you for special care if you have an HMO. 

Below are 7 reasons you should find a doctor near you:

1.   Reduced health costs

It may seem tedious and a waste of cash attending regular appointments with your primary care physician, but recent studies have revealed that regular appointment with a primary care physician cut overall costs for almost all patients. Lower cost of your healthcare is contributed by record of your health, open communications and regular screening for any infections. 

2.   Holistic health attention and care

Where should you go if you get a cough, if you feel curious about a certain medication, or if you feel depressed or stressed? The answer is your primary care physician! Your primary care physician focuses on holistic healthcare which means that he or she is trained to treat almost every disease.  With him or her, you only need to make an appointment to share any health issues you might have whether they are mental, physical or emotional.

3.   Decreased ER hospital trips

Your primary care doctor will always offer options that will prevent you from making unnecessary visits to the emergency room. For example, he or she is able to answer your questions about any health concern, give you a prescription or even suggest a course of action you should take while still at home.

4.   Perfect preventive care

One of the major reasons for having a primary care doctor is to provide better preventive care. A primary doctor is just like a coach to you. He or she can provide recommendations that will enable you protect your health. Your primary care physician will also enable you know your health history and the health history of your family as well. He or she will also diagnose and treat many minor diseases before they get worse.

5.   Routine screening

It may look like a big task for you taking blood pressure screening at every appointment, but such screenings are very important when it comes to your overall health. Regular screening and testing will help catch any symptoms of a disease before they get worse or lead to serious health issues.

6.   High level of comfort

Of course, not many people would like to discuss with strangers about their health care concerns or needs. Getting a primary care physician near you is a perfect step for you. After that, you can schedule regular appointments with him or her so that you can share your overall health concerns. According to recent research, people who have primary care physicians have higher levels of satisfaction compare to those without them.The more you visit your chosen primary care doctor, the more your relationship grows and the better your care will be.

7.   Better management of chronic diseases

Chronic complications such as arthritis, lupus and diabetes are very difficult to monitor by yourself. With a primary care physician, you will always stay organized and aware about the type of chronic complication affecting your health. Regular visits and routine screening by your primary care doctor are two ways you can better maintain chronic ailments.

How do I find a primary care physician near me?

Do I find a physician near me? Don’t wait until you have a health problem so that you can get a primary care physician. It is very important for your overall health-now and even in future.

Below are few tips for choosing your primary care physician:

1.   Know the doctors who are “in-Network”

For most health plans, you will get discounted rates with hospitals and doctors in your area. You will always pay lees cash for visiting doctors known as in-network for insurance purposes. You should therefore consider choosing in-network doctors to avoid surprises where you pay high or a doctor rejects your insurance plan.

2.   Find expert doctors who meets your health needs

After having a list of in-network doctors, you can narrow it down since there are different types of doctors who can be identified as primary care physician. They can be either general practice, family practice or internal medicine doctors.

3.   Think about logistics

Do you want a doctor located near your office or home? Use a directory to search for doctors near your home or office where it is convenient for you to visit. You might also want to consider office hours especially the time of the day when the doctor attends to patients. Language is also another factor you should consider. You should be able to communicate clearly with your physician. You should also know the languages he or she speaks best to be sure that you can understand each other.

- The Leading Physician of the World