Primary Care is Essential

The booming business of urgent care facilities has been a great competitor when it comes to healthcare choices. In 2016 the Center for Disease Control stated only 51% of visits made were actually to primary care offices (Center for Disease Control, 2016). As a registered nurse working in a primary care setting, it’s easy to see why one would be attracted to the convenience of a walk-in healthcare service. But there are so many benefits to gain from a family medicine office. Nurses in primary care serve as navigators to guide you through the intricate web of the healthcare system. With the rising costs in healthcare services, using a primary care physician is a cost efficient and practical choice -- with typically lower co-pays and a more patient centered visit. We work diligently with the public’s best interest at heart to consult with pharmaceutical companies to endorse cheaper medication choices as we understand the burden pricey medications cause. As nurses we are cheerleaders to encourage you on your journey to obtain optimal health. As a patient once told me in regards to primary care, “Here you know my medical history and answer my questions. You focus on my whole well-being not just my acute situation.” So while yes, urgent care can get you in and out quickly, family medicine aims to do more. Instead of just being a number in the assembly line of urgent care, family medicine builds a relationship and partnership with patients to achieve the common goal of a healthier community.

Reference

Center for Disease Control. (2017, May 03). National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved December 02, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov./nchs/fastats/physician-visits.htm