Primary Care Clinic Q&A

In general, a primary care physician is any physician that is trained in providing general, ongoing care to a wide variety of patients throughout their lifetime. A primary care physician may also be trained in other subspecialties, or work in an environment other than their own practice, such as a hospital or outpatient clinic. A geriatrician, who cares for older people and specializes in the necessary care for that group, may also be considered a primary care physician. It’s similar to a pediatrician, who can have their own practice in addition to working in other environments and providing general care specifically to children.

However, most of the general public understands a primary care physician as a “family doctor”, or general practitioner, which is someone who has their own practice or clinic, and can see patients from all ages and walks of life with various health concerns.

Primary care is the first major pillar in overall healthcare. Most people will have a primary care provider in their lifetime, or at least visit one more than once, probably for a variety of needs. Primary care includes any non-life-threatening emergency or health issue, including: treatment and maintenance of ongoing chronic conditions, diagnosis, medication management, immunizations, physical exams, and so on. At Dr. Pedro Ylisastigui MD, our primary care physicians can care for patients at any stage of life, and with various health concerns.

If something is off with your health and you’re not sure what it is or what to do, often, a primary care provider is the first person you’ll seek help from. Primary care also includes assessing your health issue to determine if you need to see a specialist for more complex, targeted treatment. In that case, your primary care provider will give a referral.

A primary care doctor can check for anything and everything that is a health concern to you, and does not need immediate medical attention or hospitalization. If they are unable to check for the concern in question, they can refer you to the appropriate specialist. For example, a primary care doctor can check your blood work for abnormalities, or examine the site of an injury to determine the severity of a muscle strain. They can check your ears, nose and throat during a yearly exam, and listen to your heartbeat for abnormalities.

Basically, a primary care provider can check for an underlying health issue, or anything that may be of concern to you. They will first assess the situation, including whether you need to be sent for referral to a specialist.

You should see your primary care doctor whenever you have a non-life-threatening health concern or issue. At a basic level, most people see their primary care doctors at least once a year for an exam, typically known as an annual physical. You may also need to see your primary care doctor regularly for medication management and administration, or for the maintenance and treatment of an ongoing condition. Children may need to come in more regularly than other patients, as they typically require frequent check-ups or things like immunizations.

If you feel you need to see your primary care doctor, don’t put it off, even if it’s your yearly exam and you feel fine. Primary care doctors are often the first to discover and begin treatment for serious health issues, and the sooner an issue is seen and diagnosed by a professional, the better outcomes you may have.

For more information, call us today or schedule an appointment online! We serve patients from Lehigh Acres FL, Fort Myers FL, Gateway FL, Alva FL, Buckingham FL, Tice FL, Villas FL, Cape Coral FL, Matlacha FL, and Suncoast Estates FL.