If you were born between 1981 and 1996, you’re less likely to have a primary care provider, according to data trends. This may be because you value convenience over relationships when it comes to health care. You may be relying on urgent care centers and retail clinics for your health care needs instead.
However, relying on these health care facilities alone is not the best option for your health and well-being. While these are stopgaps between family doctors and hospitals, they are not meant to replace the role of a primary care provider.
But what is the value of a primary care provider? Here are three reasons why millennials should have this medical professional in their life.
Your primary care provider forms the foundation of your health care
You may have heard that a primary care provider offers continuous care. But what does that mean to you?
Continuous care means your primary care provider is trained to have a full view and understanding of your health. This type of doctor-patient relationship is more important than you may think.
Imagine you have visited several different urgent care centers over the past year or two for different illnesses or injuries. In the process, you have seen multiple health care professionals. Each provider only had parts of your health history, making it difficult for them to get an accurate picture of your overall health.
Now imagine you had a primary care provider. One medical expert would have been at the front lines of your care for each illness or injury. Armed with a well-rounded knowledge of your overall health, they’re much better able to spot any patterns, make a more informed diagnosis and suggest treatments that better suit your unique needs.
Visits with a primary care provider save you time, money and more
Research shows that primary care is associated with lower costs and higher patient satisfaction. It’s also related to fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits, both of which are very costly. Most importantly, primary care is also associated with a lower mortality rate. Patients with primary care providers have decreased risks of rapidly declining health.
A primary care provider also helps you to stay off the roller coaster of time-consuming, painful and costly testing. Health care professionals at urgent care centers and emergency rooms won’t have your whole history. This may lead them to order tests that you could have avoided.
A primary care provider offers screenings and vaccinations that prevent health problems or uncover them early on. This preventive care may save you the high expenses that come with serious health problems. It also could help you avoid the trauma, time off work and disruption in your life these conditions bring.
There are plenty of excellent primary care providers available
If you typically research new products and services, you should do the same when looking for a primary care provider. Doing your homework on primary care providers will help you find the practice where you feel most comfortable.
Today’s primary care providers are changing to meet the needs of new patients. You may prefer to find a primary care provider who offers the following:
- Virtual doctor visit services
- Text or email communication options for follow-up questions
- Online access to charting and testing results
Visit our website to learn more about the benefits of primary care and easily find a provider near you using our online search tools.
