Understanding Your Primary Care Provider—A Woman’s Guide
For women, seeing your primary care provider (PCP) on a regular schedule offers many benefits. Your PCP can make sure you are up to date with all of your tests and screenings, from breast cancer to osteoporosis. Your PCP can also be your guide as you navigate health issues that are more common or exclusive to women such as menopause and endometriosis.
Selecting a primary care provider is an important first step in staying healthy and managing your healthcare. Think of your primary care provider as your medical home. He or she is usually the first healthcare professional you visit for any type of medical need as well as yearly physicals, wellness visits and routine screenings.
A Woman’s Point of View
Building a long-term relationship with a physician, whenever possible, is also important. A provider who knows your medical history and life story is better equipped to make a more accurate diagnosis and to detect a medical issue earlier in its development. For your part, you will feel more comfortable having honest conversations with someone you know and trust. If you currently don’t have a primary care physician, here are some tips.
- Decide What Type of Provider You Prefer
For adults, there are three types of physicians who can be your primary care provider.
- Family Practice Physicians: They see and care for patients of all ages, from infants to seniors.
- Internal Medicine Physicians: Also called internists, these doctors typically treat only adults.
- General Practice Physicians: Like family practice physicians, they treat patients of all ages. This type of doctor also includes osteopaths (designated with a D.O. instead of an M.D.), who have a focus on the musculoskeletal system.
For women, there is another option available: seeing a gynecologist as well as a primary care physician. Find out more in the section Should I See a Gynecologist?
- Ask about Insurance
Selecting a provider who is “in-network” with your health insurance will help you avoid surprise out-of-network expenses. You will also pay less out of pocket with these in-network providers. - Ask for Referrals
If you are like many people, you will feel more comfortable choosing a provider who has been recommended by someone you know—whether it be a friend, a co-worker or a family member. So, ask around. You might also want to talk to other healthcare professionals, such as a pharmacist or a dentist, and find out what they have to say. - Visit the Provider’s Office
If you really want to make sure you are comfortable with a physician and his or her staff, there’s nothing like an office visit and a face-to-face meeting. This is the best way to experience the atmosphere of the office and find out firsthand how you will be treated.
Here are other factors you should ask about during your visit.
- Hours: Do the office hours fit your work and family schedule?
- Language: You want to work with a medical staff that understands your preferred language.
- Appointments: Ask how long of a wait there is for seeing the provider. Understand the policies for canceling or rescheduling an appointment. Ask if they offer payment plans for services.
- Technology: How does the office communicate with patients—by email, phone, text? Do they offer an online portal?
Should I See a Gynecologist?
Many healthy women choose to see either a primary care provider or an OB/GYN for their medical care, and there is nothing wrong with that decision. That said, it is important to know there are benefits to seeing both types of providers. To understand why, let’s see how the two are different.
The main difference between a primary care physician and an OB/GYN is their areas of expertise.
Unlike other primary care physicians, OB/GYNs do not treat medical conditions that are not related to women’s health, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. For those situations, a woman would need to see a primary care provider. However, because of their specialized knowledge, OB/GYNs are well trained to address such health concerns as fertility issues, birth control, cancer prevention and sexually transmitted infections. They also have special training in Pap tests, menstrual cycles and pelvic exams. OB/GYNs provide a well-woman exam, which includes a breast exam, pelvic exam and Pap test. The primary purpose of this type of exam is to address a woman’s sexual and reproductive health. Of course, if a woman is wanting to become pregnant, an obstetrician/gynecologist is who to see.
Some women may choose to see both. By having a relationship with an OB/GYN and a primary care physician, a woman can take advantage of the unique perspective each provider has to offer by having both a physical and a well-woman exam each year.
The Doctor Will See You Now
Need help finding a primary care provider? Just visit our provider directory at hometownhospital.com
Sources: Piedmont Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, UC Health