If you have ever needed medical care, you are aware of how difficult it can be to navigate the health care system. One thing that can help you is having a primary care doctor, who is also referred to as a primary care physician (PCP). Besides helping you navigate a very complex system, here are three reasons you need a primary care doctor.
Your Health Insurance Plan May Require It
If your health plan is considered a health maintenance organization (HMO), you will need to have a primary care doctor. As soon as you get on one of these types of plans, you will need to choose your PCP. This physician then becomes your main point of contact for all of your medical needs. If you end up needing to see a specialist, you will have to get a referral from your primary care physician. If this referral is not in place, your health insurance plan can refuse to pay for medical services.
Your Health Care Will Be Easier to Manage
Primary care doctors can make your health care much easier to manage. As you develop a relationship with your primary care physician, they will get to know all about your health history, along with your current medical needs. If you would need to see a specialist, they would be able to recommend one, and might even be able to set up the appointment for you.
A primary care doctor would also know when you are due to have certain routine screenings, vaccinations, and other tests as you get older. Because of the relationship established, some patients have an easier time asking their PCP difficult questions.
You'll Having an Easier Time Making Appointments
When you see a doctor you have never seen before, chances are you will have a long wait. This is because appointments to establish care require a larger block of time. If you try to see a different doctor every time you get sick, you're not going to be seen right away. This is another major advantage of establishing care with a primary care doctor.
After seeing your primary care doctor for the first time, it will be much easier to get in for subsequent appointments. Some primary care doctors are even able to get their patients on the same day you need one, or the next day. This in turn can help save time and help you avoid expensive urgent care or emergency visits.
For more information about healthcare visit http://www.MLPrimaryCare.com.
Share29 December 2016
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
