Primary Care Doctors
What is a 'primary care' doctor?
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.
Why do I need a primary care doctor?
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.
How do I choose a primary care doctor?
You choose a primary care doctor by gathering information from as many sources as you possibly can. Clearly, asking friends or relatives who have knowledge and experience about doctors in the community is important. If you're new to a city or a location, ask people, neighbors, your child's teacher, or members of the clergy. Also, the local pharmacist is a good source of identifying a primary care doctor. The idea is to talk to as many people as possible. Another source, often, is that hospitals have referral agencies for doctors that are affiliated with the hospital, and they're happy to provide you with a list of names. Your child's doctor, for example, might be able to make a referral for an adult physician for you. Once you identify these individuals, feel free to call and make an appointment to interview the physician and see if that physician is compatible with you. Come equipped and ready to ask a series of questions about what issues are important to you in your relationship with the doctor. I would suggest that if a physician is too busy to meet with you before you develop a relationship, that's probably not the right primary care doctor for you.
Do I need a primary care doctor before I can be admitted to a hospital?
Actually, you don't need a primary care doctor to be hospitalized. If you need to be admitted to the hospital, you can be admitted through the emergency department without having a primary care physician. Once you're admitted to the hospital, if you do have a primary care physician. your doctor will be notified of that admission, and if you don't, you'll be assigned a primary care physician to take care of you during your stay in the hospital.
