Primary Care Physicians Q&A
Family Medicine Healthcare provides primary care physician services to our patients. We have doctors specializing in pediatrics and geriatrics, and all ages in between, to service a wide patient base. If you are looking for a new primary care physician, contact us or book an appointment online to see how our doctors can help you. We are conveniently located at 3925 Portsmouth Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23321.
Table of Contents:
What is the role of a primary care physician?
What is the difference between a primary care doctor and a family physician?
What common conditions can be treated by a primary care physician?
What are the benefits of having a primary care physician?
How do I find a primary care physician?
A primary care physician undertakes the role of the principal source of medical care. Individuals should go to their primary care physician for any health concerns they have to ensure that all medical records and health details are coordinated through one medical professional. The primary care physician will refer you to additional specializations, if needed, for further diagnosis and treatment, whilst maintaining a record of your medical conditions and treatments. Primary care physicians can be trained as family doctors or internal medicine doctors, depending on their interest and their patients’ needs. A primary care physician will not only get to know you, but also your medical history and any of the unique intricacies of your individual health and well-being.
A primary care doctor can be a family physician or an internal medicine doctor, depending on the needs of the patient and the area in which the doctor has chosen to specialize. An individual who has children may choose to find a primary care doctor who has a basis in family medical care so that the doctor can treat the entire family. On the other hand, an older adult, or an adult without children, may choose a primary care physician with a background in internal medicine as their education and experience aligns with the medical needs of the patient. At Family Medicine Healthcare we offer primary care services for patients of all ages, from pediatrics to geriatrics and everything in between. Our team can meet the medical care needs of all your family members throughout the course of their lives and provide diagnosis and treatment for any illnesses, injuries or medical conditions that arise.
A primary care physician can provide diagnosis and treatment for many common medical conditions. The goal of primary care is focused on preventative health and performing regular screenings for health conditions so that they can be caught and treated whilst still in the early stages of development. Primary care physicians can also provide treatment and help to manage chronic conditions enabling you to live a comfortable life. The team at Family Medicine Healthcare is trained and experienced across all ages of patients from pediatrics to geriatrics, so they are well-versed in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions affecting their patients. Primary care physicians are able to treat patients with a wide assortment of ailments that are not life-threatening such as a cold, sore throat, ear infection, sprains, cuts and many other injuries and illnesses. They also act as the center point and data source that is needed to coordinate their patients’ treatment (including specialized care) so that medication or treatment conflicts are avoided.
Having a primary care physician gives you a consistent one-stop shop for your medical care. This person will not just get to know you as a person, and develop a close bond centered around your health and well-being, they will also know and understand your medical history and any unique health concerns you may have. At Family Medicine Healthcare we take a preventative approach to your health and well-being, staying on top of early indications of serious conditions and providing you with the necessary regular screenings for early detection. A primary care physician also acts as the main data source for all your medical data. They will keep clear, concise records of your medical history, including notes and treatments received through specialists to whom you have been referred, so that your entire medical history is available to them. This will enable them to provide you with the best medical advice and recommendations based on your overall health, whilst ensuring that medical treatments or medications are prescribed with the full context and knowledge of any other medicines you are currently taking to avoid negative drug interactions.
Finding a primary care physician can be a daunting task. This is going to be the person that you trust with your general health care so you want to make sure that they will have experience and familiarity with treating any chronic conditions you may have. You also want to ensure that you find someone you are completely comfortable with and can have awkward conversations with when it comes to your health. People look for primary care physicians for many reasons – they just don’t have one, their current doctor is moving, retiring or closing their practice, the patient may have moved to a new city, and the list goes on. Recommendations are a good place to start by asking friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors. Your existing doctor can provide you with a recommendation if you’re moving, or they are. You can also check with your local health authority to see if they have a list of primary care physicians accepting new patients, otherwise doing a quick online search for doctors in your area can give you the name of some doctors’ offices in your area. Family Medicine Healthcare provides primary care services to patients in and around the Chesapeake VA area, so contact us to learn more about our services. We are conveniently located at 3925 Portsmouth Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23321. We serve patients from Chesapeake VA, Portsmouth VA, Norfolk VA, Suffolk VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Hampton VA.