Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP) is a very important part of taking care of yourself by hiring a team of professionals who will partner with you to achieve your health
goals, whether they are to maintain or improve your health or better
manage your symptoms.
Primary HealthCare is an approach to health beyond the traditional health care system that focuses on health equity-producing social policy. PHC includes all areas that play a role in health, such as access to health services, environment and lifestyle. Primary health care (PHC) is also the "essential health care an individual gets that is based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community.
This ideal model of health care was adopted in the declaration of the International Conference on
Primary Health Care held in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan in 1978 (known as the "Alma Ata Declaration"), and became a core concept of the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of Health for all.
Nurse-practitioners are required to work with a doctor or physician in some states, but can work alone in others. PA's are required to work with a doctor. They perform regular check-ups and help with your health prob;ems.
Primary healthcare providers also include specialists in internal medicine and family practice for adults, pediatricians for children, and specialists in adolescent medicine and family practice for young adults. Your PCPs is often involved in your care for a long time, so it is important to select someone with whom you will work well.
Primary HealthCare is an approach to health beyond the traditional health care system that focuses on health equity-producing social policy. PHC includes all areas that play a role in health, such as access to health services, environment and lifestyle. Primary health care (PHC) is also the "essential health care an individual gets that is based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community.
This ideal model of health care was adopted in the declaration of the International Conference on
Primary Health Care held in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan in 1978 (known as the "Alma Ata Declaration"), and became a core concept of the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of Health for all.
Who are Primary Healthcare Providers (PCPs)
A PCP can be a doctor, nurse-practitioner, or physician's assistant (PA). Nurse-practitioners and PA's are trained to perform many parts of primary care.Nurse-practitioners are required to work with a doctor or physician in some states, but can work alone in others. PA's are required to work with a doctor. They perform regular check-ups and help with your health prob;ems.
Primary healthcare providers also include specialists in internal medicine and family practice for adults, pediatricians for children, and specialists in adolescent medicine and family practice for young adults. Your PCPs is often involved in your care for a long time, so it is important to select someone with whom you will work well.
Why do You Need a Primary HealthCare Provider PCP?
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You need a PCP so that your health can be checked regularly to detect any problems early (so that they don't become worse). Your PCP can help you make smart choices to stay healthy. He or she can talk with you about health risks which result from your decisions about such as- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Sex
- Seat belts
- Nutrition
- Fitness
You can choose from several different types of PCPs:
- Family practitioners: These are doctors who have completed a family practice residency and are board-certified, or board-eligible, for this specialty. The scope of their practice includes children and adults of all ages and may include obstetrics and minor surgery.
- Pediatricians: They are doctors who have completed a pediatric residency and are board-certified, or board-eligible, in this specialty. The scope of their practice includes the care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents.
- Internists: Are doctors who have completed a residency in internal medicine and are board-certified, or board-eligible, in this specialty. The scope of their practice includes the care of adults of all ages for many different medical problems.
- Obstetricians/gynecologists: These are doctors who have completed a residency and are board-certified, or board-eligible, in this specialty. They often serve as a PCP for women, particularly those of childbearing age.
- Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Physician assistants (PA): They are practitioners who go through a different training and certification process than doctors. They may be your key contact in some practices.
How to Check For Quuality HealthCare Provider
- Check the web for professional organization and certification information. For example, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) provides an online directory that lists practitioners of Oriental medicine and acupuncture who are board-certified.
- Get referrals. One of the best ways to find an integrative therapy provider is through a referral from someone you trust.
- Check licensure because Licensure for integrative therapy providers varies widely by state.
- Ask questions, once you have selected a quality provider you would like to meet, you can consider the items on the Choosing a Provider Checklist.
However, here are some additional questions for integrative therapy practitioners:
- Did you graduate from a nationally accredited midwifery or medical education program?
- What is your degree?
- Are you licensed to practice in this state?
- What is your certification? (For physicians: Are you board certified? In what specialty?)
- How will you determine if the care you specialize in is the right care for me?
- If I choose you as my health care provider, who else will be involved in my care?
- What types of health care services do you provide?
- Can you provide care for more general health needs like flu shots and minor illnesses?
- Is your office staff friendly and helpful and is your office good about returning calls?
- How easy is it to reach you?
- Do you order a lot of tests?
- Do you refer your patient to other specialists frequently or infrequently?
- What do colleagues and patients say about the you?
- Do you view our patient-doctor relationship as a true partnership?
- How can you help me understand health care information and make good health care decisions?
- Can my family members come with me to my appointments?
- At which locations can I receive my care?
- Other questions are?
- Is the provider rated to give quality care.
- Does he/she takes steps to prevent illness-for example, talks to you about quitting smoking.
- Does he/she have privileges at the hospital of your choice?
- Encourages you to ask questions.
- Can he/she listens to you.
- Can he/she explains things clearly.
- Can he/she treat you with respect?
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