
A Primary care physician or PCP is your primary doctor. A PCP is responsible to deal with most of your health issues. Depending on the kind of your health insurance your insurers may tell you to have a Primary Care Physician. Previously, these physicians were called general practitioners or family doctors. Nowadays, they are known as primary care providers or primary care physicians.
A Primary Care Physician New Hope, PA is a general physician who sees patients with common ailments such as headaches, respiratory infections, urinary infections, and back pain. They manage chronic medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure obesity, heart disease, anxiety, diabetes, and depression. Additionally, they have the expertise to manage multiple treatments as well as medications. PCPS can address a person considering his beliefs, values, and preferences.
The explosion of treatment alternatives and medical knowledge has made the job of PCPs more important as they can interpret and advise the best course of action. It needs communication with physicians, who can offer expert advice on a particular condition and can coordinate with families and patients.
What does a PCP do?
A PCP is a generalist who can address the majority of your health care requirements. If you face a problem that is more complicated than a PCP can manage, then the PCP shall refer to a specialist. The specialist may be a psychiatrist, a surgeon, or a cardiologist.
You can visit your Primary Care Physician Washington Crossing for your annual physical examination and also preventive health care. He shall determine your medical conditions that you are at the risk to develop in the near future. He will provide you advice so that you prevent the problems or reduce your risk.
You can visit a PCP for problems that are not urgent but have arisen unexpectedly. A PCP might offer you treatment when you suffer from a miserable cold that has settled in your chest and it is not going away for more than a week.
Managing chronic conditions
Your PCP is good to manage chronic medical problems. If you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, or acid reflux disease, PCP shall keep these conditions under control. In many cases, your primary care physician may work along with a specialist for managing chronic medical problems.
For rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatologist is involved in primary diagnosis as well as the treatment. He might turn your routine care to the PCP after your diseases are well under control. The PCP shall follow up with regular blood tests. If your symptoms become worse, or in case you develop complications, your PCP may send you to the specialist.
So, PCP is a key member and your main contact who can guide you properly.
Does it matter to have a PCP?
In case your health insurance is a POS plan or an HMO, your insurer shall ask you to have a Primary Care Provider. In most POS and HMOs plans, PCP is the gatekeeper to services that are mentioned in the health plan. An HMO, you cannot consult a cardiologist or get physical therapy done until your PCP refers you.
Even if a health insurer does not say you about having a PCP, it is always a good idea to have one. To have a family doctor is a vital part to keep you healthy. When you become sick, your PCP knows you as well as your family history. They understand you and this can be quite helpful.
Bottom Line
Most people have to enter into a health care system at some of the other points. Having a Primary Care Provider, who will know you as a person regarding your values, goals, and preference shall make it easier to get the proper care you need.




