Why You Should Find a Primary Care Provider BEFORE You’re Sick
The worst time to try and find a primary care provider is when you’re dealing with an illness. At a time when you’re trying to rest and recover, scrambling to find a provider and fill out a medical history form can be a hassle, to say the least. Have someone who already knows your medical history ready to treat you when you need medical care the most. Learn more about primary care, its services, and why you should establish yourself with a primary care provider now instead of waiting.
What Is Primary Care?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), primary care is defined as medical services covering a broad spectrum of health needs, including prevention, wellness, and treatment for common illnesses. Depending on the clinic, primary care may be performed by doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. In fact, pediatricians, geriatricians, and family practitioners can all fall under the umbrella of primary care.
Primary care providers maintain long-term relationships with their patients, sometimes from childhood, ensuring continuity of care and better understanding of each patient’s individual needs. Services offered by primary care providers may include:
- Diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses
- Annual health screenings and checkups
- Immunizations and vaccinations
- Management of chronic conditions
- Preventive care
- Referrals to specialists
Why Are Primary Care Providers Important?
When an illness strikes suddenly, having someone who understands your health and can make informed decisions based on past visits is invaluable. Because they have long-term relationships with their patients, primary care providers are more familiar with their patients’ medical history and have a better understanding of treatments and medications that are best suited. This unique knowledge also means your primary care provider can spot changes in patients’ health with more ease than other providers who may be seeing them for the first time.
Additionally, primary care providers can detect minor problems early on before they become more serious complications. Annual wellness visits and routine screenings can help primary care providers identify conditions like diabetes and hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure). Early detection also allows primary care providers and their patients to develop a treatment plan, reducing the need for an Emergency Department visit for more serious or invasive treatment.
Expert, compassionate medical care is available locally — establish yourself with a primary care provider today. Contact the Rural Health Clinics in Carlinville, Virden, or Girard today.
Posted in Healthy Connections on Jul 24, 2025
