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Primary
care is
the term used to describe the services provided by an individual’s
physician, family nurse practitioner, or other health care
professional. This health care professional typically serves
as the first point of contact for routine medical care, preventive
care, and referrals to specialty providers. Primary care can
encompass many things, including adult and pediatric internal
medicine, women’s health services (including family planning
services), chronic disease care (including HIV), immunizations,
health education and screenings.
Primary care is
the frontline of the healthcare system. It is a healthcare
home where providers are responsible for the overall coordination
of a patient's care.
What
is a Health Care Home:
A health care home is not just a building, house or hospital,
but a team approach to providing health care. A health care
home is first and foremost an on-going relationship between a patient and a provider. It originates in a primary health care setting that is family-centered
and compassionate. A partnership develops between family and
the primary health practitioner. Together they access all
medical and non-medical services needed by the child and family
to acheive maximum potential.
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