By Barbara Entsuah, MD

Primary care physicians (PCP’s) take care of your primary health and medical conditions. They can either be a family practice physician, internal medicine physician, and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner or a Physician’s Assistant. They assure continuity of care for your health and medical conditions by knowing your medical history. Your PCP receives reports from the other specialists that you may see for more complicated conditions. The PCP is able to look at the results and the treatments that were prescribed by the specialist and assure that you as a whole are being cared for. PCP’s have a holistic approach to your care. They are also the main coordinators of your care. They keep track of the medications that you are on and make sure that you are not taking any duplicate medications or medications that conflict with each other that could cause you harm.

Due to your medical condition you may see several different specialists, one for your heart, one for you kidneys and one for you skin. They may not all be aware of what the other specialist prescribed for you but your PCP will get a report from each specialist and it is their job to coordinate your care and ensure the proper treatment is received. If you don’t have a PCP, you may be unaware of what the medications you are taking may hurt you.

The PCP is your advocate and they help maneuver you through the very complicated health system. The PCP will be the doctor to help interpret the results of tests that other physicians may have ordered for you. Your PCP is able to give you solid advice on what your treatment plan should be for your given condition. There have been many times in my practice that a patient will come back to me and say, “Please tell me what the doctor meant when he told me about my test results. He seemed very rushed and I did not feel it was appropriate to ask him a question, or all he did was write in my chart. He did not explain anything to me. Can you tell me? What is wrong?” The PCP interprets the results for you and encourages you to ask questions. They have an established relationship with you and they may be able to interpret your fears and questions that you have that you may not know how to put into words. They help you make decisions about your health and your treatment plan when you are faced with a tough choice, like a cancer treatment plan or how to care for your heart disease. PCP’s also have access to resources within the community that can be helpful to the patient, like self help groups, support groups and social services. The internet and other sources provide a lot of medical information and it can be very confusing for patients. Your PCP can help you weed through the maze of health care information and can let you know what is valid and what is worth doing to improve your health

PCP’s help patients get appropriate screens based on their age or health concerns and also make sure they have the appropriate immunizations. They give you your annual physical exam. They can advise you when it is time to get your first mammogram, or colonoscopy or PSA to screen for prostate cancer. They also have record of when your last tetanus shot was and when you are due for another one, or if you need the flu shot or pneumonia vaccine. If traveling over seas. The PCP can advise you on the immunizations you may need as well as how to care for your health when you are in a foreign county.

There are several ways to obtain a PCP. Sometimes you don’t always have a choice on what PCP you go to. Depending on your insurance, you may be given a book from the insurance company and you will choose which physician you go to for Primary care. You can also locate one in your area by going through the State Medical Association or through the American Medical Association or www.americanmedicalassociation.org This will give you information on the physician, like if they are Board Certified, the length of time they have been in practice etc… Another source is the Department of Health in you state, www.departmentofhealth.org. They will have the information on physicians in your area. Your friends may be the best source for identifying a PCP. Word of mouth and knowing what their experience has been with that PCP may be he best way to find a doctor you will be comfortable talking too and discussing you health information.

However you choose, make sure you choose a physician you are comfortable with and you are able to talk with. You need to feel that they listen to your concerns, that you feel comfortable in their presence and they are able to connect with you. This will allow you to be open an honest with your doctor about your emotional, spiritual and health needs. I recently saw a patient who went to see a specialist. The specialist had to relay some bad news to this patient, this patient had cancer. This patient then came and saw me and talked about her experience with this doctor and how this doctor did not connect with her during her visit. And how receiving this news was very painful. Receiving it from a doctor who did not express care and concern made it even more unbearable. As her PCP, I was able to explain her diagnosis and spend the time with her that she needed as well as give her the emotional and spiritual support that she deserved. That is what makes the PCP important and your relationship with them special.

It is important to remember that even a PCP has to see patients in a timely manner and they probably have a waiting room of patients to see during the day. As a patient you need to prioritize your “list.” It is important to discuss with the doctor the things that are most acute or immediately pressing for you. If you have multiple concerns, let the doctor know that you have several issues to discuss. If there is not enough time, the doctor should suggest that you schedule another appointment to discuss your other concerns.

Everyone needs a Primary Care physician. Someone to be their health care advocate. Someone that they feel comfortable talking about the intimate details of how their body is functioning and responding as they go through life. Someone who feels like an old friend.

Dr. Entsuah is passionate about conducting medical missions overseas and is a graduate of Ghana medical school. Dr. Entsuah is in private practice in Groveland, FL.and a member of The Healing Continuum.com team.