Primary care providers (PCPs) play a central role in your overall health and wellness. They are the central hub of your health care, monitoring preventive care, managing chronic conditions, and coordinating health care services. They serve as your first point of contact when you have a health question or concern.
After evaluating you, if they determine your health condition is out of their scope, they will refer you to a specialist. Types of Primary Care Providers in Pennsylvania The term “primary care provider” encompasses a variety of health care providers, including family physicians, internists, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners. Although they all serve as your primary point of contact when you have a health question or concern, there are slight differences in what they do and who they treat.
• Family physicians: Family physicians treat people of all ages, from infants and children to young adults and older adults. Having a family physician is helpful because you have one point person for your whole family, no matter their age. A family physician knows your whole family’s medical history and can provide more personalized care.
• Internists: Internists, or internal medicine doctors, only care for adults. They can treat both simple and complex conditions from early adulthood through old age. Internists may overlap with family physicians in the care of teens and adults, but the difference is internists do not treat infants and children.
• Pediatricians: Pedi.
