Monday 11 July 2016

Primary Care Physicians – Important Part Of The Health Care System

Primary care physicians have brought the tradition back. They do not focus on specializing in a specific area of medicine, instead helps patients in overall health by focusing on preventive care. Some of the insurance plans like health maintenance organizations recommend patients to choose a primary care physician.

As with any relationship, good primary care relies on open, honest two-way communication. A primary care physician is the first medical practitioner contacted by a patient because of ease of communication, accessible location and increasing issues of cost and managed care requirements.
In some places like Mt Sinai, best primary care physician register their patients and they can then easily contact the doctor for referral. The PCP also helps patients to collaborate with referral specialists, coordinate the care offered by rehabilitation clinics and provide long-term supervision of persistent conditions.

Continuous care is particularly important for patients with medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension that requires prolonged treatment and monitoring.

How can you find a Primary Care Physician?

While looking for a doctor, it is not enough to just pick a name out of phone book and visit. Here are some ideas to get you started when choosing a PCP.

•    Your health insurance plan: A renowned health insurance planners have complete list of doctors in its network who are accepting new patients. Choosing a PCP is often the first step in seeking treatment under insurance plans. PCPs will handle any referrals to specialists you need.

•    Doctors who are in network:  If you select an “in-network” doctor, it will save you from paying full out of pocket charges because the doctor you select may be won’t accept your insurance plan.

•    Ask for Referrals: It’s a fact that people feel more comfortable when visiting a physician who is suggested by someone they know like friend or family member. Ask around and see what doctor your friends and family visit.
 
•    Hospitals: Some hospitals may offer a referral service thus providing you with names of staff doctors who may meet your search like specialty, gender, experience, and location.

There are a variety of primary care physicians who are specialized in different areas of your health. It’s important to find the right type of physician for the health needs of you and your family.

•    Pediatrician
The pediatrician physician specializes in managing the physical and mental health of children between the ages of 14 to 18. They primarily focus their practices on caring and guiding them by immunizations until they reach the end of adolescence.

•    Family medicine physician
Physicians who specialize in comprehensive health care for people of all ages, they are trained to treat the entire family, from newborns to grandparents. They maintain an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focusing on integrated care.

•    Internal medicine physician
Internal medical physicians deal with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases and are vital in helping patients manage chronic conditions. They also care for patients who are hospitalized and ambulatory patients and also play a major role in teaching and research.

•    Obstetrician or Gynecologist
Many women who are in the stage of bearing child also consults obstetrician or gynecologist for routine screenings and care and receive maximum care from physicians who specializes in fertility, childbirth and female health issues.

Now you know the type of physician you want to consult, but you need to ensure that the physician you choose have the right qualities. Some of the qualities are:

Ability to listen
You will be able to get the desired results only when the doctor is willing to listen to your health concerns when you visit them. You need a practitioner who will listen and address all of your concerns about yours and your child’s health. Make sure before you schedule an initial consultation. You want someone who will listen to you during this first visit.

Allowing multiple patients per visit
Prefer choosing a physician who can meet more than one family member at the same time. It would be best is they are willing to see your kids at the same time. Some doctors don't allow this, so make sure yours does.

Personality
Look for a doctor with a personality that will make you feel comfortable. You should be able to comfortably discuss health issues with them, including the personal ones. Your doctor can't provide the best level of care to you or your family members if you're not comfortable enough to be totally honest.

The most important thing to look for in a physician is someone who listens to you, makes you comfortable and is interested in your well being. When you need immediate medical attention it is important to consult someone who knows you and your medical history.

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