It depends on your needs. Virtual care (telemedicine) is convenient for discussing symptoms, prescriptions, and general concerns.

However, some health appointments, like physical exams or certain lab tests, require an in-person visit. If you're not sure what type of medical care to book, start with a virtual visit through Sesame! Your provider can advise if in-person care is needed.

In most cases, yes. Primary care is an umbrella term to describe medical care that treats a wide range of health-related issues. Primary care providers (PCPs) are usually the first doctors a patient will see if they aren't feeling well or are looking for a referral. Primary care is divided into two forms of health services: family medicine and internal medicine.

• Family medicine: Family medicine refers to healthcare provided for the whole family. A family medicine doctor is a primary care provider who mostly offers preventive care like immunizations, checkups, and medical advice. Doctors trained in family practice can treat patients of all ages from pediatrics to geriatrics, so they often act as the healthcare provider for whole families.

• Internal medicine: An internal medicine doctor (or internist) provides primary medical care for adults only. Internal medicine doctors diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions for adult patients and provide medical advice to improve general wellness. Internal medicine doctors will offer referrals to a specialist if a patient is dealing with a specific condition.

Primary care providers can treat all sorts of conditions and issues. From women's health to sports medicine, PCPs have the training and experience to be able to address a number of health concerns.

Primary care providers can offer:

• Routine checkups
  
• Annual physical exams
  
• Immunizations
  
• Urgent care
  
• Blood pressure testing (to check for hypertension and heart disease)
  
• Injury treatment (stitches, casting, splinting)
  
• Medication prescription
  
• Medical advice for general wellness
  

Primary care providers can usually answer most medical questions you may have. If you need a specialist, a PCP can offer a referral for a qualified doctor with the knowledge and expertise to treat you.

Most in-person doctor visits booked through Sesame will connect you with a primary care provider (generally a family medicine practitioner or internal medicine doctor). During an in-person doctor visit, these health care providers can test or screen for conditions such as:
-Heart disease
-High blood pressure (hypertension)
-Cancers (such as skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and testicular cancer)
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
-Lung health
-Depression and anxiety

Should you need to see a specialist, these providers can refer you to the proper care team, and guide you on the next steps.

If during your visit, your doctor determines that you may require a prescription for a new or existing condition, they can write you one during your appointment and send it to your local pharmacy, often with same-day pickup. Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider.

Primary care physicians (or primary care providers) treat and diagnose a wide range of medical conditions while providing medical advice to improve general well-being. From chronic conditions to common colds, primary care providers are often the first doctor you will go to see for healthcare.

Some services a primary care provider can provide include:

• Routine check-ups
  
• Immunizations (including the COVID-19 vaccine)
  
• Urgent care (treatment for non-life-threatening health concerns)
  
• Chronic disease management
  
• Medication prescription
  
• Heart disease screening
  
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) tests
  
• Sports medicine (treatment for sprains, breaks, and bruises)
  
• Birth control health care
  
• Wellness/ weight loss advice
  

Some issues require special training to diagnose and treat. If a primary care provider believes that a condition requires further treatment, they will give a patient a referral for a qualified specialist. Specialists have advanced training to treat specific conditions/ parts of the body.

Some examples of specialists includes:

• ENTs (Ear, Nose & Throat doctors)
  
• OB/GYNs (doctors who treat issues related to women's health)
  
• Pediatricians (doctors who manage care for children)
  
• Orthopedics (doctors who treat issues related to the muscles and skeleton)
  
• Dermatologists (doctors who treat issues related to skin, hair, and nails)
  
• Podiatrists (doctors who treat issues 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)
  

Primary care providers are usually the first doctors you will see for any health-related issue you may be having. In some cases, you can't even see a specialist without a referral from a primary care provider. If your primary care doctor believes that you need to see a specialist, they will give you a referral for a specialist with specific qualifications. Primary care providers and specialists will then work together on your health plan to give you complete treatment options.

Questions about who you need to see? Sesame offers convenient primary care options at affordable prices. Book an in-person or virtual visit with a real, quality doctor and save up to 60% with Sesame.