What is primary care?
A primary care physician is a doctor who provides preventive services, such as physical exams, checkups, screenings, and vaccinations, as well as sick care for infections like the flu or strep throat. You see a primary care physician for most of your health care needs unless you need a specialist.
Which services does primary care provide?
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose works with patients of all ages and provides a broad range of primary care services, including:
Preventive care
Preventive care consists of services that prevent illness, disease, and chronic conditions in both children and adults. While there are numerous preventive services available, some of the most common include:
- Annual physical exam
- Vision and hearing screening
- Osteoporosis screening
- Sports physical
- Immunization/vaccinations
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening
- Routine checkup
- Allergy testing
- Thyroid testing
- Nutrition counseling
- Behavioral evaluation
- Contraception counseling
- Pap smear and pelvic exam
- Lifestyle habit counseling
Thanks to preventive care, your primary care doctor can assess your risk for certain diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, to help you avoid these illnesses.
Sick care
Sick care is the type of care and treatment you receive when you’re not feeling well. If you’re sick, your doctor can evaluate your symptoms and perform certain tests to determine what’s causing your illness. The most common sick care services are:
- Cold and flu treatment
- Rapid strep test
- Throat culture
- Bronchitis and pneumonia treatment
- Antibiotics for a bacterial infection, such as urinary tract infection
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose physicians may use a variety of diagnostic tools to identify your illness, such as blood work, urinalysis, X-rays, and other imaging tests. Your primary care physician can perform many diagnostics on-site, so you don’t need to visit another location.
When should I see a primary care doctor?
You should see your primary care doctor for annual checkups, physicals, and when you’re sick. If you experience any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with a Physicians Medical Group of San Jose physician:
- High fever
- Persistent coughing
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Constant headache
- Abdominal pain
- Ear pain
- Body aches
- Chills
- Rash
The primary care team at Physicians Medical Group of San Jose has the training and experience to provide you and your family with exceptional care. Call your Physicians Medical Group of San Jose physician today!
