Before I begin addressing how to find a PCP or primary care physician, let’s talk about what a primary care physician is and why having one is crucial.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a primary care physician is a specialist in family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics who provides definitive care to the undifferentiated patient at the point of first contact and takes continuing responsibility for providing the patient’s comprehensive care.
The primary care physician is the entry point for the patient’s health care needs, not limited by problem origin, organ system, or diagnosis. Primary care physicians advocate for the patient in coordinating the use of the entire health care system to benefit the patient.
Now how do I go about finding the physician who is going to be integral in coordinating my health care needs?
If you have medical insurance, your insurance company will have listed physicians within your network. Choosing a physician within your network will also decrease your out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The next step is to find a board-certified physician within your network, whether it’s your primary care physician or a specialist. “Board certification has served as the gold standard for close to 75 years now in assuring the public that those that bear the imprimatur of each of the 24 boards that comprise the [ABMS-American Board of Medical Specialties] have the necessary training, experience, and knowledge to provide high-quality care to their patients,” says James C. Puffer, MD, president, and chief executive officer of the American Board of Family Medicine. This was true in 2010 and still holds today in 2023. It’s the gold standard in vetting your healthcare clinicians. Certification combines evidence-based practices, peer reviews, performance indicators, and patient assessments. The goal of board certification is to ensure that every patient gets the best quality medical care possible.
How do I find a primary care physician if I am uninsured? Your local health department and free clinics in your area will be a great resource. You can also shop for different primary care physicians and ask about cash discounts.
The best continuity of care would be to acquire health insurance. If you are recently unemployed and had health coverage at your previous place of employment, you are usually eligible for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) continuation health coverage. COBRA requires continuation coverage to cover employees, their spouses, former spouses, and dependent children when group health coverage would otherwise be lost due to specific events. COBRA continuation coverage is often more expensive than the amount that active employees are required to pay for group health coverage since the employer usually pays part of the employee’s range, and all of that cost can be charged to individuals receiving continuation coverage.
A more economical option would be to try affordable health insurance plans through various insurance companies and Obamacare.
Your primary care physician is not only your point person to manage your health care needs, but they also make sure that you have all your screenings completed, refer you to a specialist if necessary, and help you maintain overall good health. There is truth to the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is better and easier to stop a problem or illness from happening than to prevent or correct it after it has started.
To find out more information about finding a primary care physician or to get answers to your health and wellness questions, sign up for my newsletters at www.asknursesherrie.org. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram at AskNurseSherrie and on Twitter at AskSherrieRN. We will continue the conversation on my podcast, which is coming soon….AskNurseSherrie. To your optimal quality, longevity, health, and lifestyle.
No insurance? How to See a Doctor Without Insurance by Ruben Castaneda.
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References
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- https://www.aafp.org>about>policies>all>primary
- FAQs on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage for Workers. www.dol.gov>sites>dolgov
- Is Board Certification Overrated? by Robert Anthony. Copyright 2010 by UBM Medica. www.PhysiciansPractice.com