A good relationship with your primary care provider (PCP) can help you protect your health and well-being. A long-term relationship with a PCP keeps you healthier and lowers medical costs. A PCP can teach you ways to stay healthy, treat you when you’re sick and help you get more advanced care when you need it. Finding the right PCP for you takes time but improves your well-being in the long run.
Our primary care team includes:
- Family medicine: These doctors care for patients of all ages.
- Internal medicine: These doctors care for adults starting at age 18.
- Pediatrics: These doctors care for newborns through the teenage years.
Frequently asked questions
There are actually many good reasons to see a doctor regularly, even when you feel fine.
A primary care doctor can help you stay healthy and can be the first to treat any health problems that arise. Make time to find a provider who is a partner in your long-term care, and have regular checkups.
A relationship with a primary care doctor can help you detect and manage a wide range of health issues. They can teach you how to lead a healthier lifestyle, provide needed medications, screen for disease and recommend specialists when you need them.
Establishing a relationship with a primary care doctor is very important. In addition to care when you’re sick, your primary care doctor helps you maintain your health when you’re well through essential tests and proactive procedures, including:
- Yearly wellness exams
- Immunizations
- Management of chronic diseases
- Preventive health
- Screenings
- School and sport physicals
- Treatment for health issues
When you have a medical concern, your primary care provider should be your first call. In many cases, they'll be able to address the problem. If a specialist is needed, your primary care provider will give you a referral and will continue to oversee and coordinate your care.
A long-term relationship with a primary care doctor, also known as a PCP, keeps you healthier and lowers medical costs. Research shows that patients who regularly visit their primary care doctor have fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits than those who do not see a primary care doctor.
They’ll serve as your personal health advocate, learn about your health history, work to reduce your risk for chronic disease and help you manage health concerns as they develop. If you need specialty care, your primary care provider will coordinate that for you.
When it comes to your child’s health, you want the best care available. At Mercyhealth, we understand that children have unique health care needs. Our board certified pediatricians and family medicine doctors will help your child get a best start to life and build the foundation for a happy, healthy future.
They provide such services as well-child checkups, immunizations, wellness education, and treatment of common childhood illnesses like ear infections. Your child's pediatrician also treats chronic conditions like allergies, asthma and diabetes.