What is primary care?

Primary care is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. It focuses on wellness and prevention. To keep you healthy and free of disease, your primary care doctor will likely:

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• take a careful look at your health history so they can determine what risk factors you may face

• offer vaccinations to keep you from catching a disease

• perform screenings so they can catch health issues early

• coach you on lifestyle changes you can make to stave off illness in the future

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Why is primary care important?

Primary care is meant to be your main source for healthcare, one in which you have an ongoing partnership with your healthcare provider in the larger context of your community. Primary care is designed to:

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• give you better access to healthcare

• lower your costs

• improve your health outcomes

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According to the Council on Graduate Medical Education, people who have easy access to a primary care provider tend to spend less money on their healthcare and are healthier, too.

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