Primary Care Provider: The Key to Better Health

Content medically reviewed by Tanya Diegel, DO, and Taylor Mertz, MD

When you think of a primary care provider, or PCP, you may see them as someone you visit when you’re sick.

“While PCPs treat various illnesses and conditions, they also play an invaluable role in helping you maintain your overall good health,” said Dr. Tanya Diegel, family medicine physician at Essentia Health. “Finding and building a relationship with a PCP is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy.”

You can think of your PCP as your partner in good health—they keep you on track with regular checkups, recommend important screenings, and refer you to specialists if you need a higher level of care.

What Is a Primary Care Provider?

A primary care provider works with you to help you manage your health, including preventing, diagnosing, and treating health conditions.

Primary care services include –

• Diagnosing and treating illnesses
• Coordinating care between other providers and specialists
• Helping manage chronic conditions
• Keeping track of a patient's health history
• Performing routine preventive visits and screenings
• Prescribing medication
• Providing immunizations and vaccinations

Different Types of PCPs

People commonly refer to a PCP as a primary care physician or primary care doctor, but a PCP can also be another type of licensed professional, such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner, or NP, holds a four-year degree, plus two to four years of additional training. They perform checkups and screenings, diagnose certain conditions, and prescribe medication. NPs often work under the supervision of a physician.

Physician Assistant

A physician assistant, or PA, works closely with your doctor to care for and manage your health. Most PAs have a four-year degree plus a few additional years in specialized training. Many physician assistants have a master’s degree.

They are trained to provide many of the same services as a doctor, including –

• Developing treatment plans
• Diagnosing and treating illnesses
• Ordering and interpreting tests
• Performing routine exams and screenings
• Prescribing medications
• Providing patient education

PCPs can also provide general care or specialize in a specific field, like pediatrics, gynecology, or internal medicine.

Pediatrician

Pediatricians are PCPs who care for children from the first day of their life until they turn 18. They perform regular checkups, recommend immunizations, and treat nonemergency illnesses like the flu or allergies. They support the needs of your family while establishing a trusting environment for your child to get the care they need.

Internal Medicine

An internist, or internal medicine physician, specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of complex conditions, in addition to providing general primary care. Their expertise is in helping mostly adult patients manage long-term illnesses or multiple complex conditions.

Family Medicine

These primary care physicians provide comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages, from newborns to older adults. Many people choose a family doctor for the convenience of having one person care for the whole family.

Family Medicine with OB

A family medicine with OB doctor provides comprehensive health care to people of all ages. By choosing a family medicine with OB doctor, women can receive pregnancy care during pregnancy and delivery from the same doctor who provides them with primary care.

Benefits of a Primary Care Provider

When you choose a PCP and visit them regularly, your risk of developing long-term diseases drops. PCPs are leaders in helping families and individuals stay healthy, namely through disease prevention, relationship building, and chronic condition management.

Preventive Care

Primary care providers strongly focus on preventive care, which includes regular checkups and screenings and keeping you up on all current vaccinations. Appointments with these providers usually involve –

• Addressing any concerns or symptoms you’re experiencing
• Checking your blood pressure
• Listening to your heart and lungs
• Recording your medical history or any changes in your health
• Taking your height and weight
• Taking your temperature

Checkups and screenings help prevent diseases or detect them in early, more treatable stages. In fact, preventive screenings have helped prevent about 80% of disease-related deaths.

For example, if your PCP notices your blood pressure is high during a routine visit, they may recommend lifestyle changes, such as weight loss or medication, to help you control your blood pressure. Preventive care helps you avoid long-term health issues, like stroke or heart conditions linked to hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Your age, current health status, and risk factors for certain diseases determine how often you should visit your PCP and which screenings you need.

Building a Strong Patient-Provider Relationship

The relationship you build with your PCP is more than just a doctor-patient interaction—it's a partnership.

“When you have a long-term relationship with your primary care provider, they understand your health history, current lifestyle choices, and your family health history to make an informed treatment plan,” Diegel said. “For example, if your family has a history of cardiovascular disease, they may recommend certain heart screenings to identify early warning signs of heart disease.”

Building a relationship with your PCP is especially important when dealing with complex or chronic conditions.

Managing Chronic Conditions

PCPs help people manage long-term conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. If you’re living with a chronic condition, your PCP can help prevent complications and reduce hospitalizations by detecting any issues early before they get worse. They can help you –

• Adjust medications as needed
• Develop a personalized treatment plan
• Monitor your condition
• Provide support and education

How to Find a Primary Care Doctor

There’s much to consider when choosing a PCP—do you go with a family medicine provider or an internist? The key is choosing a primary care provider who’s dedicated to caring for all of you, not just a specific symptom. These are some factors to consider when choosing a PCP –

• Their approach to care
• Their location—are they close to work or home?
• Their specialty and experience

“Finding the right PCP is an investment into your long-term well-being and one of the first steps toward taking charge of your health,” said Dr. Taylor Mertz, family medicine physician at Essentia Health. “Even if you consider yourself healthy, we recommend regular checkups and establishing a strong relationship with your PCP to ensure you stay in the best health.”