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Primary Care Basics

Primary care is a branch of medicine that focuses on providing comprehensive and continuous health care for individuals, families, and communities. It encompasses preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and palliative services to improve a patient's health and well-being. In addition, primary care providers strive to provide patient-centered medical care by considering the patient’s physical and mental health needs.

Primary care providers are sometimes known as family doctors or internists. A family doctor is a primary care provider with the training and experience to diagnose, treat, and prevent various medical conditions in patients, regardless of age or gender. An internist–or internal medicine physician–generally focuses on conditions related to the inside of the body, like high blood pressure or diabetes. An internist will primarily work with adult patients.

A primary care provider is more than just a doctor who performs your routine check-up (although these are very important). Instead, primary care providers (PCPs) perform a wide range of medical services to diagnose and treat patients.

Specific services offered by primary care providers include:

• Annual physical exams
  
• Routine check-ups
  
• Lab testing (blood and urinalysis)
  
• Injury treatment (applying splints, casts, slings, etc…)
  
• Medication prescription
  
• Medical advice for general wellness
  
• Preventative care strategies (like dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes)
  
• Cancer screening
  
  

When to see a Primary Care Provider

As detailed above, primary care providers offer a wide range of medical services. Most people will see a primary care provider at least once a year for a routine physical exam. A primary care provider will also offer acute care for various illnesses and conditions.

Some common conditions diagnosed and treated by primary care providers include:

• Cold, flu, and other acute illnesses
  
• UTIs and other vaginal infections
  
• Rashes, warts, moles, and other skin conditions
  
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE)
  
• Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
  
• High blood pressure
  
• High cholesterol
  
• Developmental disorders
  
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
  
  

Primary care providers can also diagnose and treat certain orthopedic injuries like sprains, fractures, and tears.

Depending on the condition, your primary care provider may determine that specialized care is needed. They will refer you to a specialist for advanced testing and treatment methods in this case.

Types of specialists include:

• ENTs (Ear, Nose & Throat doctors)
  
• Endocrinologists (doctors who specialize in conditions related to glands and the hormones they produce)
  
• Oncologists (doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers)
  
• Orthopedists (doctors who treat issues related to the muscles and skeleton)
  
• Dermatologists (doctors who treat problems related to skin, hair, and nails)
  
• Podiatrists (doctors who treat problems related to the foot, ankle, and lower leg)
  
• Neurologists (doctors who treat issues related to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and more)
  
• Mental health care providers (such as therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors)
  
  

What to expect from your first primary care appointment

The first visit with a primary care provider will be centered around gathering pertinent information regarding your medical and family history. You will be asked to give information about past illnesses or surgeries, family health history, lifestyle habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption, medications you are taking (both prescription and over-the-counter), allergies, and reactions to certain drugs can help ensure that they have all of the necessary information needed for providing quality healthcare services.

A primary care provider will likely conduct a full physical exam during this first visit. A full physical exam consists of several tests to screen for health conditions and overall wellness.

Some standard tests performed by doctors during a routine physical include:

• Vital sign checks
  
• Percussion tests
  
• Visual examinations
  
• Eyesight tests
  
• Hearing tests
  
• Cancer screenings
  
  

Booking Primary Care in Arlington, TX

With a network of licensed health care providers in Arlington, Texas, you can find convenient and affordable in-person and telehealth (video) primary care services on Sesame.

To book a visit:

• Search “Primary Care” in Sesame’s search bar
  
• Browse the list of available providers near you
  
• Choose between video and in-person services
  
• Pick a time that works best for your schedule
  
• Book your visit!
  
  

We recommend in-person visits for routine check-ups, chronic condition consultations, and lab testing. However, some things can’t be done over video. Instead, video visits address symptoms, discuss prescriptions, and screen for specific conditions.

Don’t wait to get the personal care you need. Instead, book a primary care visit with the best doctors in your area and save up to 60% on your appointment.