What is a 'primary care' doctor?

What is a 'primary care' doctor?

Arthur Shorr (Former COO and SVP of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'primary care' doctor?; Why do I need a primary care doctor?; How do I choose a primary care doctor? and more...

A primary care physician - sometimes we call them PCPs - used to be called, in days gone by, general practitioners, GPs or family doctors. A primary care doctor is the individual who focuses you, the individual, to preventive care, sees you for regular check ups, and monitors your health. Primary care physicians are also sometimes called internal medicine doctors; sometimes they're called family practitioners, sometimes they're pediatricians, and many times women seek to get their primary care through their gynecologists.