Butler Health System | Butler Health | Spring 2018

HEALTH LINK Do you have a primary care provider (PCP)? Looking for Dr. Right? Try the physician finder at butlerhealthsystem.org . When it comes to good health, there’s one medical professional you simply can’t do without: a primary care provider (PCP). This is your main provider—the person who will see you through nonemergency illnesses, from an aching back to a cough that won’t go away. He or she can treat most medical problems. And if not, this provider will get you to a specialist who can. Your PCP helps you stay healthy But a PCP does more than help you feel better when you are sick. He or she will help keep you healthy. And that means, among other things, partnering with you to catch small health problems before they become serious and making sure you’re up-to-date on potentially lifesaving screening tests. Why I became a primary care physician: See why Kathryn Szabo, MD, became a PCP and how she helps families like Jessica’s stay healthy at butlerhealthsystem.org/jessica . Here’s why you need one Over time, your PCP will also get to know you as a person. That way you can feel comfortable talking about anything that’s bothering you—physically or emotionally. Studies show that people who have an ongoing relationship with a PCP are less likely to die prematurely than those who don’t. Improving your access to health care “It is more important than ever to establish an ongo- ing relationship with a PCP,” says Elliot Smith, MD. “Patients who do not have a PCP in 2018 are termed ‘medically homeless’ (not having a care location where one is known or where the medical infor- mation is accurate). A PCP’s office has a care team that focuses on the total picture as it relates to your health care needs. They coordinate your access to specialists, while also supporting you in your need for both disease prevention and care after develop- ing an illness or chronic medical condition. Indi- viduals managing their own care by self-referring to physicians and seeking support from multiple locations are fragmenting their care and missing the attention of a PCP connecting the dots and keeping your health care on track.” Different types of primary care providers You and your family have a lot of choices when it comes to what type of PCP to see. There are many different kinds of PCPs, including: Family medicine practitioners. These provid- ers care for people of all ages, from newborns to seniors. In fact, they often see members of the same family. Internists. These providers care for adults of all ages with many different medical problems. Their expertise allows them to manage complex medi- cal situations, especially in adults with multiple conditions. Pediatricians. These providers care for new- borns, infants, children and adolescents. Nurse practitioners (NPs). These providers complete a different training and certification pro- cess than doctors but also provide excellent primary care and are an important part of the health care team. They provide a number of health care ser- vices, such as prescribing medications and diagnosing and treating a variety of illnesses and injuries. Physician assistants (PAs). These providers care for patients under the supervision of a doctor. A PA is trained to provide many of the same health care services a doctor performs, including doing physical exams, prescribing medications, and order- ing and interpreting lab tests and x-rays. Butler Health System has a strong and talented network of primary care physicians, dedicated to bringing our community the highest quality care. Please don’t delay your care another day. Start building your PCP relationship today. Kathryn Szabo, MD, with Mason Lewis of Saxonburg, PA. 4 |