| Choosing a primary care physician (PCP)for your | | | | to for treatment. |
| health care needs is critical for the coordination of | | | | In addition, your PCP will be the physician who will |
| the health care system. A PCP is usually one of | | | | coordinate your elective hospital procedures or will |
| the following types of medical providers: | | | | be called in if you are admitted to a hospital. In |
| Pediatrician, General Internists, Obstetrician | | | | short, your PCP coordinates your health care. |
| Gynecologists or a Family Practitioner. | | | | Your PCP will prescribe medications, give you |
| Many Americans wade through the American | | | | physicals, advise you on treatments and help you |
| Health care system without a relationship with a | | | | with referrals to medical specialists who are best |
| primary care physician. Not electing a PCP is akin | | | | suited to help you with a medical need beyond |
| to fishing without a line. You have a fishing pole | | | | the scope of the PCP. |
| but no way to get the lure in the water. With a | | | | Many individuals do not have a relationship with a |
| PCP your fishing experience will be more complete | | | | PCP. Those who have not developed a relationship |
| because the fishing pole, line, lure and fishermen | | | | with a PCP should seek referrals from family |
| are working together. | | | | members, co-workers or through a local hospital |
| Sure we can find other providers on our own and | | | | system's physician referral hotline. |
| set appointments with these providers to seek | | | | You want someone who knows the medical |
| treatment for something your PCP may not be | | | | community and will provide you advise on where |
| trained for but should you? But the PCP is your | | | | to go for medical care beyond his or her |
| ticket to continuity in health care delivery. your | | | | expertise. Your PCP will help you with any medical |
| PCP will keep your medical records and be able to | | | | you need you have if you ask. So if you have |
| provide these records to specialist you are | | | | not chosen a PCP, now is as good of a time as |
| referred to see. | | | | any to do so. Contact people you work with or |
| Your PCP should know about all vitamins, | | | | family members who live nearby for information |
| over-the-counter medications and alternative | | | | on who their PCP is so that you can consider this |
| therapy you are receiving so that these medical | | | | person and above all, if you do not have a PCP, |
| interactions are coordinated with those your PCP | | | | get one now! |
| is prescribing or those your PCP is referring you | | | | |