Good Health Starts with Primary Care: Finding the Right Physician for You

Photography by James Moore

Primary care physicians are your first line of defense in managing health, preventing illness, and navigating today’s complex healthcare landscape.

The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on one’s health, wealth, and habits. One of the most impactful steps you can take to improve all three areas is establishing a relationship with a skilled primary care physician.

A primary care physician is defined as a medical professional who “practices general health care, dealing with a wide variety of health concerns for patients.” A trusted primary care physician is your first line of defense in maintaining good health, treating common illnesses, managing chronic conditions, and accessing specialized care when needed.

“Medicine has evolved dramatically over the past 20 to 30 years, with improved diagnostic technology and more advanced treatment options,” said Dr. Jason Spurling of Ozarks Healthcare. “However, some of this evolution has made healthcare more complex.

“The importance of preventive medicine has become a cornerstone of our health care system and is largely delivered by primary care physicians.”

Primary care physicians can be categorized into several subsets, including:

• Family Doctors: Trained to treat the entire family, from children to adults. These physicians may also provide obstetric care, including pregnancy management and delivery, and perform minor surgeries.

• Pediatricians: Specialists in treating newborns, babies, children, and teens.

• Geriatricians: Doctors with specialized training to address the medical needs of older adults.

• Internists: Physicians focused on treating adults and managing a variety of medical concerns.

• Obstetricians/Gynecologists (OB/GYNs): Although technically specialists, OB/GYNs often serve as primary care providers for women of childbearing age and are experts in all aspects of reproductive health.

Dr. Spurling emphasized that finding the right primary care physician starts with identifying someone you trust, who communicates health information clearly and fosters a comfortable, collaborative relationship.

“It’s important to have someone who can provide individualized care for you and your family,” he said. “The advent of new technology and treatments has added significant complexity to health care, making the primary care physician’s role as your advocate and care coordinator more critical than ever.

“I feel that while the role of the primary care physician has evolved, they’ve become even more important than they ever were.”