5 reasons to make Primary Care a priority this year

As we head into the new year, you may be thinking about ways to take care of yourself more. For many, self-care involves eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and focusing on mental health. But did you know that building a relationship with a primary care provider is another essential way to feel your best?

Regular visits with your primary care provider—even when you aren’t feeling sick—are a key part of preventative health. That’s why at LCMC Health, we make getting primary care in the Big Easy, easier than ever. Here are five reasons why we love visiting our primary care provider. And why you should, too.

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1. Convenience: Think of comprehensive primary care as a one-stop-shop

When you have a primary care provider nearby, you have one place to go to for all your routine healthcare. Primary care providers focus on holistic health. That means they’re trained to treat a little bit of everything—and can help if you’re feeling under the weather, have questions about your health, need updated vaccines, or all the above.

A quality primary care provider can address all your health needs in one easy visit.

2. Prevention: Spot health problems before they become serious

We recommend seeing your primary care provider at least once each year. That way, they can become familiar with your baseline health and measurements. If something changes or you have unusual symptoms, they’ll be able to help you spot them before they get worse or turn into major issues. Your provider can also make sure you’re healthy, staying active, and getting the screenings you need to check for cancer and other diseases.

Regular primary care visits are a great way to prevent health issues and keep you feeling your best.

3. Disease management: Manage existing conditions more easily

Maybe you have an existing condition, such as diabetes, arthritis, or high cholesterol. Managing a chronic (or long-term) disease isn’t always easy to do on your own. Your primary care provider can be a great resource. They can schedule routine tests, so you have the most up-to-date information about your condition. They also ensure your current treatments, including medications, work for you.

4. Care coordination: Get health advice about the care you need

Your primary care provider is trained to help both your physical and mental health. But sometimes, you may need to visit a specialist. You can talk to your primary care provider about any concerns and figure out, together, the best path forward—which may mean specialty care.

Primary care providers give referrals for specialty care. You often need a referral before you can see a specialist. With a primary care provider, it’s easier to navigate all the health services available to you, also known as “coordination of care.”

5. Personalized medicine: Work with a provider who knows you best

Regular primary care visits help you build a relationship with your provider over time. A strong patient-provider relationship means better conversations about your health, so you get what you need. Ultimately, you’re part of the same team. As you feel more comfortable working with someone you know, your provider also gets to know you and what you need to be well.

Learn how to choose Dr. Right.

Find a primary care provider you love

The primary care providers at LCMC aren’t just meeting the requirements—they’re giving a little something extra. And that little extra goes a long way.

Are you ready to start prioritizing your primary care? We’re here to help. Find a doctor you love.