Primary Care Physicians (PCP), given their role and scope of practice, can play a leading role in promoting the health and wellness of individuals. But how exactly?

How PCPs Work

PCPs are one of the primary sources of health care in the US. They are often the first line of contact for people with a set of health problems or for healthy people who need to arrange for care.

Some PCPs are in solo practices, others are in a group practice, and others work in hospital-based clinics.

The Primary Care Goals

The goals of primary care physicians are to provide early intervention, maximize the time and attention to each patient, and ensure that effective interventions happen. Primary care physicians can encourage people to adopt healthy behaviors, such as exercise and routine medical screenings. They also help patients manage chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

In addition, primary care physicians personally care for patients during times of illness, including prescribing medications and managing treatments. They also serve as a key trusted source of health information.

The Conditions PCPs Treat

PCPs focus on providing patients with both medical and psychosocial problems. They commonly treat:

• Colds and other infections
• Chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and hypertension
• Headaches and other musculoskeletal disorders
• Injuries and trauma
• Women’s health issues

PCPs treat a wide range of conditions. They are also the largest providers of long-term care for seniors as well as those with chronic conditions.

In addition, PCPs can examine and treat children, teenagers, and young adults. They can also prescribe and manage medications for these age groups.

The Value of Primary Care

PCPs are not only offering the benefits of early intervention and improved quality of care, but their services are also cost-effective.

In addition to the cost savings, the PCP-patient relationship can strengthen preventive health behaviors and help patients better manage their chronic conditions. A strong PCP-patient relationship provides greater access to care, which can help patients address conditions and prevent them from becoming more severe.

The PCP is there for you 24/7. They provide care for you and your family. As such, they are also a trusted source of health information. PCPs can help you make informed decisions about your health and help support you while addressing your health needs.

Primary Health Centers

Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are clinics that provide a range of primary care services. They are a great alternative to the traditional doctor’s office. PHCs are close and convenient to where a patient lives and works. They are also open on nights, weekends, and holidays.

PHCs are managed by health systems and private, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. Some PHCs are managed by cooperatives and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

Like PCPs, PHCs can provide patients with a full range of medical and psychosocial care. They can treat common conditions, like colds and infections, and chronic conditions like COPD and diabetes. PHCs also cannot prescribe controlled substances or prescribe birth control.

The Bottomline

Primary care is a growing and valuable component of the health care system. In addition to meeting the needs of patients, primary care also provides cost-effective and timely care to patients with a broad range of medical and psychosocial needs. 

Aspen Medical Center has some of the best primary care doctors in Santa Fe and Espanola. We offer state-of-the-art primary care and urgent care services. Contact us!