What is a primary care provider?
A primary care provider (PCP) is someone who practices healthcare, seeing patients who have common medical problems, according to the National Institutes of Health
(NIH).
A PCP is most often a doctor but also can be a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner, according to the NIH. Types of physicians who are PCP include family practitioners, pediatricians and internists.
This healthcare provider will be your main source of non-emergency care, and according to the NIH, his or her job is to:
- Decide how urgent your medical problems are
- Direct you to the best place or specialist for additional care, if needed
- Identify and treat common medical conditions
- Provide preventive care
- Teach healthy lifestyle choices
PCP’s usually see patients in outpatient offices, but might help with your care if you are in a nearby hospital, depending on the situation, according to the NIH.
Visit www.premierhealthnet.com/doctor to find a PCP for your area.
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