Why do I need a primary care doctor?

Why do I need 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...

You need a primary care doctor so that you have one individual who knows you and your medical history better than anybody else. You need to have someone who can evaluate your medical situation and determine whether or not you should be seen by a specialist and, if so, what kind of specialist is best for you. If there's an emergency situation that requires hospitalization, it should be very comforting to you to know that there is one physician who knows you over time and has a history of you that can be incorporated into your care. It's very important that every child has a primary care physician. That can be either a pediatrician who treats only children, or a family practitioner who treats both children and adults.