Your primary care provider (PCP) takes care of your whole family. A trusted PCP will build a caring relationship with every family member to help each of you make the right decisions about treatment and care. Learn why it’s important to have a PCP.
Whole-Person Care
While most doctors are trained in one or two areas of medicine, PCPs train in almost all of them. They can treat acute health problems like sinus infections and perform minor procedures such as draining an abscess. Their training lets them treat you and your family during all the stages of life — from early childhood through the senior years. All along the way, they’ll care for you as a whole person: body, mind and spirit.
Knows Your Health History
Because you’ll see the doctor regularly, your PCP can get to know your health history. With this information, along with your relatives’ health history, the primary care physician can screen for symptoms of serious diseases, which can lead to quicker treatment.
Provides Comfort
It can be hard to talk about your health care needs with a doctor you don’t know. Once you have a doctor you can trust, you’ll feel more at ease talking about your overall health or things that concern you. The more comfortable you are, the more you’ll share — and that can be good for your health in the long run.
Provides Routine Screening
You probably know the drill: The nurse takes your blood pressure and weighs you at every visit to the doctor. But these simple, regular screenings can help catch symptoms before they get worse or become serious problems. As a PCP sees you over time, updates your records and learns about your health habits and history, personality and lifestyle, it’s easier to spot possible changes in your health.
Educates You About Health and Prevention
When you go in for your routine screenings, your doctor can help you learn more about how to prevent illnesses in the future. A proactive primary care provider will offer helpful information that fits your unique needs and goals. You and your family may learn about such topics as weight loss, high blood pressure, stress and much more. With education, you and your PCP can both be proactive about prevention.
Serves as Your Point Person
Your primary care provider can refer you to a cardiologist, orthopedist or another specialist. Because your doctor knows you well, it will be easier to match you to someone who fits your needs and even your personality. Your PCP is your point person — the one who can coordinate care with specialists, guide you through next steps and stay in constant contact with the specialist.
When you continue your care with one primary care provider you develop a rapport so it’s easier to share your health concerns. We’ll also know your health history better to know what your baseline numbers should be, so we can easily detect when something is off.
Manages Chronic Health Problems
When you’re dealing with a chronic health problem like diabetes or arthritis, it helps to have a PCP by your side. With your primary care provider there to help you monitor an ongoing health condition, you may be able to better manage your chronic disease. Because of routine tests and regular visits, your primary care doctor will know how to help you stay focused on self-care.
A PCP That’s Always Here for You
Are you looking for a doctor for you and your family? Our Find Doctors tool can help. Once you find a UChicago Medicine AdventHealth primary care provider, you’ll have a doctor who’s there to guide your whole health and can help you start down a path that leads to a lifetime of wellness in body, mind and spirit.
