“An apple away keeps the doctor away,” or so the saying goes. But most know it takes more than an apple to keep you well year-round. An important part of your health is a relationship with a primary care provider.
Evidence shows that people who regularly see a primary care provider are healthier. Yet the number of people seeking primary care continues to decrease each year. This decrease can be attributed to a myriad of causes, such as rising healthcare costs, the hassle of searching for a new doctor, and more. However, routine wellness visits and an active relationship with a primary care clinician are essential to keeping you healthy, managing chronic conditions, treating acute illness, and more. Learn more about why you need a primary care provider and what they do.
What does a primary care provider do?
You might have heard Primary Care Providers (PCP) referred to as General Practitioners, Internal Medicine Specialists, Family Medicine Doctors, Family Nurse Practitioners, and more. These may all refer to different types of training within primary care. Overall, PCPs’ main goal is to keep patients healthy. They can diagnose and treat common conditions and acute illnesses. Also, they help patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension.
“Primary care practices provide health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of health care settings.” – AAFP
Primary care providers offer comprehensive and valuable patient care. Their varied knowledge helps provide great care. Further, they can provide useful and necessary referrals to specialists when needed.
When should I see a primary care provider?
If you don’t have a PCP, it’s not too late to start taking action on your health. An annual wellness exam is vital to good health, and it’s typically included in most insurance plans. Your PCP may request yearly lab work and wellness tests for preventative health measures to keep you well.
In addition, a PCP can help you if you need a specialist referral. A primary care practice is a good place to start if you begin experiencing new symptoms. Your provider can either diagnose and treat you or guide you to an appropriate specialist. Even if you don’t need specialist care, a PCP can treat a wide variety of acute illnesses – from a cold to a sprain, and more.
Why do I need a primary care provider?
There are a variety of reasons why you need a primary care provider. Here are our top five reasons why you should find a PCP to help you on your journey to better health.
Reach your health goals
A PCP can help you define and reach health goals. Whether you’d like to maintain a healthy weight, start a new exercise program, improve lab work numbers, or more, a PCP can help. Regular wellness exams, follow-up appointments, and preventative health assessments can help you measure progress and reassess goals throughout the year.
Chronic condition management
Chronic conditions can be difficult to manage. That’s why having a dedicated provider to help you manage your condition is essential to staying healthy. Chronic conditions managed by PCPs include diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and more.
Get better care and referrals
Having a PCP can help you get consistent, quality healthcare. When a condition or illness requires specialized care, a PCP can refer you to specialists. These can include orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, gastrointestinal doctors, and more. A PCP serves as your point of entry to the rest of your healthcare, helping you connect all the dots.
Preventative and proactive care
Preventative health is a branch of primary care that aims to keep patients healthy to prevent illness and conditions. Wellness screenings and annual testing can help your PCP track your health. This helps them better understand when you may need additional care.
Learn what your body needs
Your body is one-of-a-kind. Because of this, there is no “one size fits all” approach to healthcare. You need a unique blend of nutrients, exercise, vitamins, medications, and more. A PCP, through lab work and getting to know you, helps you understand exactly what your body needs to function at its best.
How do I choose a PCP?
When choosing your PCP, it’s important to understand your options. Clinicians have different specialties and expertise. And the offices may have different services that suit your lifestyle, such as telehealth. Also, always check your insurance to see which doctors are covered under your health insurance plan and in-network.
Why you need a primary care provider
Studies consistently show that patients with a primary care provider get better and more high-value healthcare. PCPs are doctors who specialize in keeping patients healthy, treating acute illnesses, diagnosing conditions, and more. Whether you have a chronic condition or have health goals to reach, a primary care provider can help. Likewise, primary care is your connector to other care you may need, like specialists and preventative screenings. When choosing a primary care clinician, understand your options to help you find the provider who’s right for you.
RiverRun Primary Care
Finding a primary care provider who takes the time to listen and understand you is essential to your overall wellness. We know that people are seeing primary care providers less each year, but we want to change that. At RiverRun Health, we provide comprehensive primary care and internal medicine. Linda Leach, FNP-C is a family nurse practitioner who sees patients aged 18 and older.
Learn more about Linda, or schedule an appointment today by calling us at 423.531.9300.
Linda Leach, FNP-C
Linda Leach is a family nurse practitioner at RiverRun HEALTH. Linda earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The State University of New York in Buffalo before finishing a Master of Science of Nursing from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Chattanooga Area Nurses in Advanced Practice.
Linda is the mother of three grown children and has two grandchildren, who are the apples of her eye. When not in the office, she can be found gardening, hiking, or playing with and spoiling her grandsons.