Steve gets a Primary Care Provider--at Last!

Yesterday, Steve and I went to visit his new Primary Care Provider, Internist Therese Law, MD. His prior Primary Care Provider had left for a teaching position at the University of Washington--leaving a gap in his care. We were both very happy with the visit. Dr. Law was kind, highly professional, very knowledgeable, and - best of all - undaunted by Steve's medical history.

Steve's medical record is the size of a New York City telephone directory, and it's complicated. I've been saying for years that I should get Continuing Medical Education credits just for being his wife! (I have learned a tremendous amount of medicine just by being with him - more internal medicine and nephrology than I ever imagined. Plus, I learned how to run hemodialysis!)

So why, with a nephrologist, a cardiologist, an ophthalmologist, a hematologist, an orthopedist, a transplant nephrologist, a transplant surgeon all in Steve's camp, does he need a Primary Care Internist?

Allow me to climb onto my soapbox....

First of all, let's define what a Primary Care Provider is. Primary Care physicians who treat adults only are called "Internists," or "Internal Medicine" doctors. Family Practitioners - like me - are trained to care for people of all ages: from infants to the elderly. We are also trained to deliver babies, although I stopped delivering babies several years ago. Pediatricians, also Primary Care physicians, treat children from infants to adolescents.

Primary Care Providers are board certified after completing a three-year residency program after medical school. Specialist physicians are usually Internists who then go on for additional training in their particular  area of expertise. Surgeons go through surgical residencies after medical school; they, too, may specialize after specialty training - or practice as general surgeons.

So, what does a Primary Care Provider have to offer?

• I like the explanation that PCPs are experts in common health problems, who are trained to  recognize more serious conditions, and refer patients for more involved treatment to our specialist colleagues.
• PCPs are often a patient's initial diagnostician.
• PCPs tend to be good "scanners," focusing on the "big picture" rather than a single area.
• PCPs tend to offer "breadth" of knowledge, while specialists offer more "depth" of knowledge.
• A good PCP can help you by being an effective "broker." (I can find you a specialist in hair loss for women, for example, or a transgender-friendly gastroenterologist in a heartbeat!)
• PCPs can help coordinate a patient's care, and facilitate good communication between the different care providers.
• PCPs sometimes serve as "translators" when our specialist colleagues leave questions unanswered.
• A good PCP can be very helpful in facilitating behavioral change, i.e. smoking cessation, alcohol treatment, etc.
• Your PCP is likely the advocate who keeps you on track with health screening: reminding you of mammograms, colonoscopies, DEXA scans, immunizations, and the like.
• A PCP who knows you over a long period of time may know you better: making the PCP an excellent resource for problem solving, particularly for serious matters like end of life issues.

Does everyone need a Primary Care Provider?
In my opinion, yes! Am I biased? Absolutely! I've just seen so many examples where PCPs have added invaluable contributions to patients' overall health. I certainly don't have the expertise that Steve's specialists do, but few of them would likely feel comfortable in my practice either!

Remember, it can take titme to find the right doctor - or doctors - for you and your family. But it's well worth the effort.

Take care. Linda Gromko, MD