Primary Care Is At The Center Of Your Good Health
Care you can trust begins with a primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP is a health care partner who is there to help you get healthy, stay healthy, manage a chronic condition, and/or cope with a serious illness. From keeping you up-to-date with immunizations and screenings, to referring you to a specialist and more, your PCP gets to know you and your medical history to better diagnose, treat, counsel, and coordinate your care.
No matter your age or stage of life, an annual physical exam with your PCP can help to optimize your health. When health problems are identified early, they are more likely to respond to treatment—which can lead to a longer, healthier life. These yearly visits can also help to:
Prevent Illness
Seeing your PCP once a year for a physical exam, even when healthy, may decrease the risk of disease. Catching health issues you didn’t know were there or know were coming can help to prevent bigger problems later.
Catch Health Problems Early
Your provider may order laboratory tests or preventive health screenings based on your age, gender, medical history, and family history. Depending on the results, your PCP may recommend follow-up testing and lifestyle, exercise, or diet changes to help you improve or maintain your health.
Update Your Medical Record
A lot can change in a year! Your annual physical exam is the perfect time to let your PCP know about any changes that could affect your health, as well as update your medical records.
Establish A Strong Relationship
Your annual physical exam is a great opportunity to get face-to-face time with your provider. You can foster your relationship, share with them what is or is not working, and find an agreeable plan going forward.
Only you play a bigger role in your overall health than your PCP. So to make the most of your annual physical exam, consider bringing written lists of your current medications and supplements, other healthcare providers, and any health questions or concerns you may have. The more information your PCP knows, the better they can offer personalized health advice.
If you are looking for a new PCP so you can schedule your annual physical exam, several St. Clair Medical Group providers are currently accepting new patients. The St. Clair Medical Group network includes a wealth of experienced, board-certified primary care providers at nine different office locations across the region so you never have to go far to get the primary care you deserve.
Several of these offices reside within St. Clair Health facilities that offer both primary and specialty care, along with diagnostic and imaging services—all in one convenient location, close to home. From eliminating the need to visit multiple facilities, to allowing for easier consultation among providers across disciplines, this coordinated approach to health care is invaluable to patients.
Please call the primary care referral line at 412.942.DOCS or visit physicians.stclair.org/primary-care to find a PCP within the St. Clair Medical Group network. As a leader in high value healthcare, St. Clair Health accepts all major insurances.