A Primary Care Provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner who sees people of all ages that have common medical problems and/or health and wellness issues. This person can be a physician, a Physician Assistant (PA), or a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Your PCP is often involved in all stages of your life, so it is important to select someone with whom you will work well.
A PCP is your main health care provider in non-emergency situations. Your PCP’s role is to:
Primary care is usually given in an outpatient setting. However, if you are admitted to the hospital, your PCP may assist in your care, depending on the circumstances.
Having a primary care provider can offer you a trusting, ongoing relationship with a medical professional for a lifetime. You can choose from several different types of PCPs:
Providers that have completed a family practice residency and are board-certified, or board eligible for this specialty. The scope of the practice includes children and adults of all ages and may include obstetrics and minor surgery.
Practitioners of internal medicine focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. At least three of their seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that affect adults.
Practitioners go through a different training and certification process than physicians. They are often referred to as “physician extenders” and often are your key contact to some practices. All PAs and FNPs consult with physicians.
Compatibility between a patient and PA or FNP is crucial, as the patient needs to feel comfortable divulging personal information that could be affecting your health. Patients should partner with the health care provider in establishing a relationship and foster open communications that are important in good medicine. Staying healthy is a two-way street. As a patient you need to take responsibility for your health care:
Along with compatibility look for the following:
Another Resource for finding providers is MakeTheConnection.net . This site is designed to connect Veterans, their families, friends, and other supporters with mental health information.It is a tool for finding local resources, with more than 800 videos of Veterans sharing their inspiring stories of recovery. Visitors to the site can learn about the signs of mental health conditions, substance use and abuse problems and find sources of support. The site is free to use and accessible to everyone.
Community Hospital Clinics are located in Wickenburg, Wittmann, and Congress. We sincerely follow our mission to provide quality health and wellness services where the patient, family, and community come first.
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