May 2023

Your primary care physician (PCP) is someone you can rely on to manage your health at every step of your wellness journey. When it comes to checkups, wellness exams, vaccinations or specialist referrals, your PCP remains the first point of contact for any health-related concerns or issues you may have.

When your general practitioner specializes in patient-centered care, your health and well-being become their primary care points of focus. But not every doctor’s office puts this philosophy into practice. Here are some reasons why patient-centered primary care can benefit you and your loved ones.

Accessibility

A patient-centric PCP can often provide same-day or next-day appointments for urgent concerns, which can help prevent small health issues from becoming more serious. (As opposed to waiting weeks — even months — for an appointment with another physician). They’re here for you and make themselves available to their patients as they need them.

Familiarity With Local Health Resources

Often more familiar with the healthcare resources in their area, this can help a patient-centered PCP make the most appropriate referrals and recommendations for their patients. This can save patients time, money and hassle by avoiding unnecessary trips to specialists not covered by their insurance. Furthermore, PCPs often have established relationships with hospitals and medical facilities, which can help patients receive more coordinated and efficient care.

More Personalized Care

A trusted PCP can provide more personalized care because they’re likely to be more aware of local factors that can affect their patients’ health. For example, they may be more attuned to environmental factors such as pollution or local outbreaks of infectious diseases being based in your area. 

Additionally, a patient-centric PCP can provide culturally sensitive care that takes into account the unique needs and preferences of their patients, which can improve patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

Convenient Follow-Up Appointments

Follow-up appointments are an important part of managing chronic conditions or monitoring ongoing health concerns. And with a PCP emphasizing patient-centered care, it becomes easier to schedule these appointments at times and locations that are convenient for you, which can reduce the likelihood of missed appointments or delayed care. This is especially important for patients who have busy schedules or who are juggling multiple health concerns.

Better Communication and Patient Relationships

A patient-centered PCP can provide better, more personalized, specialized care and build stronger patient relationships. Patients are more likely to trust and feel comfortable with a provider who they know and who understands their health concerns and history. 

Moreover, they can provide more effective care coordination by working closely with other healthcare providers in the community healthcare network, such as specialists, pharmacists and home health providers.

Enhanced Preventive Care

Preventive care is an important aspect of maintaining good health, and your PCP can make it easier to access these services. For example, your doctor may be able to provide flu shots or other vaccines at their office, which can save patients the time and hassle of going to a pharmacy or clinic. Additionally, they can provide personalized recommendations for screening tests, such as mammograms or colonoscopies, based on the patient’s age, gender and family history, helping detect and treat health problems early on.

Patient-Centered Primary Care

How does Richfield Medical Group complete all of the above? Our primary care practice is patient-centered, with comprehensive care centered upon caring, lasting relationships with patients and their families. We’d be happy to have you as part of our wellness family. 

Take a chance to read our reviews and request an appointment today.