Your primary care provider should be your go-to resource for all of your healthcare needs. He or she helps you manage your health by taking care of common, everyday health concerns and offering preventive health services. Those who serve as primary care providers with Amberwell Health are physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
A PCP is your gateway into the healthcare system. An appointment with your PCP is often the first step in identifying and managing any medical problem that is not an emergency. Developing a long-term relationship with a PCP often results in a healthier lifestyle and a higher quality of life. Across your lifespan, your PCP acts as your health guide and can teach you how to be healthy, treat you when you’re ill, and help you find more specialized care when you need it.
Building trust and familiarity with your PCP
One of the biggest advantages to having a primary care provider is developing a long-term relationship with them. With regular checkups, such as annual wellness visits, your PCP will get to know a lot about you and your health, such as:
- Your current state of health
- Your medical history and family medical history
- Your treatment preferences and challenges
- Your personality and lifestyle
Your PCP will use this information to tailor your care to fit you as an individual and will not use a one-size-fits-all approach
Over time, you will build trust with your PCP and will feel comfortable talking with them about your health concerns. It’s easier to discuss sensitive topics with someone you know and trust than a stranger. The more candid you can be with your PCP, the better they will be able to provide you with the healthcare you need.
Why are regular checkups with your PCP important?
When managing your care, your PCP considers all of the information that he or she has learned about you. Then, they work with you to create a health plan to keep you healthy, disease-free, and living your life to the fullest.
Your PCP can teach you ways to make better choices about your health by helping you:
- Quit smoking
- Eat healthier foods
- Manage stress
- Keep track of your vaccinations
Your PCP will also:
- Recommend screening tests based on your risk factors to detect diseases in their earliest stages, often before symptoms even start to show—for example, lung cancer screening
- Treat any common illnesses and injuries that may arise—like an ear infection, a cold, or a sprained ankle
- Help you manage chronic health conditions—such as COPD, diabetes, and high blood pressure
- Refer you to a medical specialist, as needed—like an oncologist or a surgeon
Why should I have a primary care provider?
A primary care provider is your long-term health partner, providing complete health care across your lifespan. Through regular wellness visits and routine physicals, they become familiar with your overall health and can offer treatment options that are best suited to your needs. They can catch potential problems early, before they become serious or life threatening. They can help you avoid trips to the emergency room and hospital stays by being the first to treat any health problems that may arise. They know when you need more advanced care and will refer you to specialists they trust.
Amberwell Primary Care Providers
Amberwell primary care providers value developing long-term relationships with their patients. Our PCPs often care for multiple members of entire families, from infants to geriatrics. Many of our PCPs are highly trained and experienced Maternal Care providers and provide excellent care for expectant mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. Then, once the baby is born, the PCP continues to care for the mother and the child.
