Primary care providers: Who's right for you?

The best health care is based on lasting relationships between patients and their health care providers. That's why we encourage you to find a primary care provider you can trust. We know you. You know us. When you choose a primary care provider, you are choosing someone who will get to know you in order to guide your overall medical care. The primary care provider who’s right for you is someone with whom you can discuss anything that could affect your health – from family history, to your lifestyle, habits and beliefs.

Kinds of primary care providers

While focusing on your general health needs, your primary care provider can refer you to a specialist or community resource when appropriate.

Common kinds of primary care providers include:

• Family medicine physicians are doctors who specialize in the general health needs of men, women and children of all ages. They have training in community medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery.
• Internal medicine physicians (internists) mainly care for adults. These doctors diagnose and manage chronic illnesses or complex conditions.
• Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training. They work with a physician to offer primary health care for men, women and children.
• Pediatricians care for children. These doctors specialize in the emotional, physical and social growth of babies to teens.
• Physician assistants care for the general health needs of people of all ages. They give routine exams and treat illness or injury under the supervision of a physician.

Some women choose an obstetrician / gynecologist (OB/GYN) as a main health care provider. OB/GYNs are doctors who specialize in the care of the female reproductive system, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Choosing a primary care provider

Choose a primary care provider when all is well. That way when all is not well, you won’t have to make a hasty decision about your medical care. And because your primary care provider knows you, he or she can help you stay healthy.

When choosing a primary care provider, consider:

• Training and experience: Find out where he or she studied medicine, the length of that training and where he or she has practiced medicine.
• Prevention: Is he or she concerned about your lifestyle? Note whether he or she asks about your alcohol, tobacco and drug use; eating and exercise habits; health risks at work and home; or sexual activity.
• Accessibility: Make sure the provider is accepting new patients. Find out his or her usual hours to see if they fit your schedule. Ask who covers for the provider when he or she is out of the office. Find out who should be called and what hospital is used for emergencies.

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First published: 07/29/1999
Last updated: 03/06/2009

Reviewed by: Sheri Lofton, MD, Allina Medical Clinic – Cottage Grove; Michael Shrift, MD, chief medical information officer, Allina Hospitals & Clinics; Caroline Toll, MD, Allina Medical Clinic – The Doctors Uptown