What is Primary Care Service?

In order to define what primary care service involves, it is important to explain the services that are offered to patients and identify the different types of wake forest primary care providers. Primary care includes high quality board certified primary care Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. In all practices, however, the patient is central the primary care concept.

This article includes three definitions related to primary care services. The definitions define the care provided to the patient, the system used to provide care, Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners who provide primary care services, and the role of other Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners or non-physicians  have in providing care.

Primary Care

Primary care is the care provided by Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners who are specifically trained in comprehensive first contact and continuous care for patients with any undiagnosed sign, symptom, or health concern. Primary care is not limited by the origin of the problem, organ system, or diagnosis.

Primary care involves health promotion, prevention of disease, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment. It is used in various health care settings such as an office, inpatient, critical care, long-term care and home care. Primary care is overseen by a personal Physician, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners who will often collaborate with other healthcare professionals. They will provide consultations and referrals as needed. The goal of primary care is to provide patient advocacy and achieve cost-effective care through the coordination of health care services.

Primary Care Practice

A primary care practice acts as the patient's initial entry point into the health care system. It also serves as the center for any required health care services. Primary care practices give patients access to their personal Physician, Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners and help establish a back-up medical provider for use when they are unable to see their primary medical provider.

Primary care practices are structured in order to meet the needs of the patient with health issues. A majority of the patient’s concerns and issues are cared for at the primary care practice. The primary care practice is typically located within the community where the patients live. This allows the practice to facilitate access to health care while coordinating with a wide variety of specialty practices and referrals. The structure of the primary care practice often includes a team of both Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners for comprehensive care.

Primary Care Physician

A primary care physician often specializes in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine or Pediatrics. The physician provides the patient with care at the first point of contact, and continuously takes responsibility for providing the patient with comprehensive care. This care can include chronic, preventive and acute care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. A primary care physician is specifically trained to provide these comprehensive services through their residency or fellowship which usually take place in acute and chronic care settings.

Primary care Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners commit a majority of their practice to providing primary care services to a specific group of patients. The style of a primary care practice allows the personal primary care physician to serve as the entry point for essentially all of the patient's medical and health care needs. These possible needs are not limited by the origin of the issue, organ system, or diagnosis. Primary care Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners also act as advocates for the patient in their coordination of the entire health care system in order to benefit the patient.

More on Primary Care Providers : Types of Primary Care Providers