Primary Care Provider

What is a primary care provider?

A primary care provider (PCP) is a healthcare provider who partners with you to manage your health. Your PCP is the first person you talk to when you have a health issue that’s not an emergency. They’re also the provider you see for annual checkups. Your PCP gets to know you over the years and tailors care to your needs.

PCPs are often doctors (commonly called primary care doctors). This means they go to medical school to earn their M.D. or D.O. degree. But nurse practitioners and physician assistants also serve as primary care providers — typically as part of a primary care team. If you live outside the U.S., you may refer to your primary care provider as a general practitioner.

What does a PCP do?

Your PCP helps you stay healthy or get better when you’re sick. Here are some specific things you can expect your PCP to do:

• See you for annual checkups to keep an eye on your health
• See you when a health problem suddenly pops up
• Get to know you — including your medical history, treatment preferences and personality
• Answer your questions about infections, chronic conditions and medicines
• Help you prevent health issues by doing things like quitting smoking, eating more nutritious foods or managing stress
• Make sure your vaccines are up to date to prevent illnesses like the flu, tetanus and shingles
• Suggest screening tests (like mammograms and colonoscopies) to detect problems before you notice them
• Prescribe medicines for you
• Help you manage long-term conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or depression
• Refer you to other providers, like a heart doctor, lung doctor or orthopedic surgeon

When should I see a PCP?

Ideally, you’ll see your PCP once a year. It can help to schedule your annual checkup around the same time each year (for example, near your birthday). This makes visiting your PCP part of your normal routine.

You should also contact your PCP if you have:

• Symptoms of an infection that needs treatment (like strep throat, whooping cough or a urinary tract infection)
• New or unexplained pain anywhere in your body
• Side effects from medication
• Questions about your treatment plan

What do primary care providers specialize in?

Primary care physicians typically specialize in one of the following areas:

• Family medicine. These providers are known as family doctors. They see babies, children and adults of all ages. You, your kids and your parents all might see the same family doctor.
• Internal medicine. These providers are known as internists, or internal medicine doctors. They see people 18 and older.
• Pediatrics. You know these providers as pediatricians. They care for infants, children and teens.

Some family doctors and internists further specialize in caring for older adults. These specialists are called geriatricians.

How to find a primary care physician

Here’s how to find a PCP to fit your needs:

• Check your insurance plan. Review your plan materials or call customer service. See which PCPs are in your insurance network and near your home. This can help you narrow your search right away.
• Ask for recommendations. Talk to people you trust. Ask if they’d recommend their PCP, and if so, what they like about them.
• Search online. Hospitals in your area may feature PCPs on their website. You can read provider profiles and patient reviews. You may also be able to find video clips or interviews that show a provider’s personality.
• Call PCP offices. Once you have a few possible PCPs in mind, call their offices. Verify they take your insurance and ask if the PCP you want to see is taking new patients. Ask what you should know as a potential new patient. You may also want to visit the office in person to get a feel for the atmosphere.

After your first appointment, give yourself the chance to reflect on how it went. In general, it’s likely a good fit if you:

• Felt safe and comfortable
• Felt respected
• Were invited to ask questions
• Received clear and helpful answers

If anything doesn’t feel right to you, start fresh with a new PCP search. It may take a few tries to find the right primary care provider for you — and that’s OK. The more comfortable you feel during your PCP visits, the more likely you’ll return for routine checkups and out-of-the-ordinary concerns. And that can make all the difference in your health.