Primary health care helps people of all ages and walks of life achieve and maintain optimal wellness and function. Cost-effective and accessible, the best primary care addresses immediate and long-term medical needs. Here’s more on the components of this foundational type of healthcare.
It Starts with a Patient/Provider Conversation
Whether you visit your primary healthcare provider for urinary tract infection or strep throat treatment, or you need a routine physical for work or school, you begin your appointment with a conversation. Your provider wants to know the reason for your visit and what he or she can do to help. For your part, be specific about what you wish to achieve during this consultation.
Your provider will ask questions and discuss your symptoms. They will consider these symptoms in the context of your medical history. Over many appointments, conversations develop into long-term relationships which give the provider insight to accurately detect and treat illnesses or their potential for development. The patient, in turn, comes to trust the provider and openly discusses health concerns as they relate to him or her personally.
Your Primary Care Provider Determines Your Health Risks and Formulates Care Plans
Your primary care provider will determine your health risk factors based on:
- Age
- Medical history
- Family dynamics
- Weight
- Lifestyle habits (ex. smoking, and consuming alcohol)
- Exercise patterns
- Nutrition
With all of this information, your provider will decide on a care plan to address immediate needs and to address preventive ones as well.
The consistency of primary care visits allows your provider to notice symptoms and trends in your health which may not be obvious to you. For instance, a borderline high blood pressure may not be a danger to you now, but over time, it can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, and others. Or, if osteoporosis runs in your family, your provider may wish you to have a DEXA scan, an imaging test for bone fragility, sooner than the typical screening age of 65.
Education Empowers Every Patient
Know the facts about your acute and chronic illnesses. Know your risk factors for disease and injury. Learn how to manage stress, eat healthy and how to add movement and exercise to your daily routine. Your primary care provider is ready and willing to point you to the resources which will educate you on living a healthier life.
Primary Care at FamilyCare of Kent
If you live in Kent, primary care at FamilyCare of Kent is your best bet. At our primary care clinic, our nurse practitioners focus on a long list of health care needs, with individualized patient care as the foremost goal in all they do. To learn more about how we can serve you and all the members of your family at our clinic in Kent, Washington, call us for a friendly consultation at (253) 859-2273 or request a visit here. Premier quality healthcare is all we do, and we make it accessible and beneficial to all who come through our doors.