Why You Need a Primary Care Provider

The month of May observes areas of health and prevention, including Women’s Health, Hepatitis Awareness, Brain Cancer Awareness, Mental Health, Skin Cancer Awareness, and Stroke Awareness. Health organizations and professionals across the nation use this month to stress the importance of taking preventative action and care for these specific health concerns.

With a primary care provider, you can take preventative measures by scheduling routine check-ups and annual screenings. Having a primary care provider in place can help avert or slow down the progression of certain diseases, treat sudden illnesses and ensure your health is in good standing.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the role of a primary care provider and what it means for a patient’s health.

What is a primary care provider (PCP)?

Primary care providers see patients on non-emergent visits. It can be anywhere from a routine visit just as a touch-base, and they can also see you during acute illnesses that are non-emergent, such as a sprained ankle or a sore throat.

What are the costs associated with seeing a PCP?

Having a PCP can help reduce your overall costs because it is cheaper than an unexpected trip to urgent care. The costs associated with seeing patients through primary care is a lot less expensive than going to an emergency department or even to urgent care, mainly because we are seeing things before they become a major issue. With that, you are able to reduce costs because you’re not having the chronic management and complications that follow and bring you to the doctor. You’re being more preventative than dealing with what’s already a problem. Regular visits with your PCP can help identify potential problems before they become a serious issue.

If cost is a barrier for you, contact your local Coplin clinic to learn more about our Sliding Fee Program and find out if you qualify for financial assistance.

Why is it important to have a PCP?

Having a long term relationship with a primary care provider is very important. They learn your history, they know what you like, what you don’t like, but they also know your family history and your social history. That’s especially important because if you see someone you’re not familiar with, you have to start from scratch and tell them everything, from the beginning to the end. But when you see your own primary care provider, you’re able to start where you left off and continue to explore any healthcare concerns that you have.

At Coplin Health Systems, our primary care providers are dedicated to our patients’ health and building solid relationships to ensure patients feel cared for and comfortable. If you’re looking for a PCP with Coplin, please look over our PCP list here.