The importance of primary care doctors can be felt in every home, in all modern societies. The distinguishing role of these doctors shows that they are the first point of contact for most people before the other health levels doctors are needed. It is also a fact that nothing much would have been possible in the healthcare system if the primary healthcare sector fails. As a little child, starting from the time of conception up to the time of birth, and growing into adulthood, the only contact many people have experienced of the medical profession is the primary care doctor; they are first level of professional everyone knows.
By definition, a primary care doctor or physician provides both first contact for a person with undiagnosed health concern as well as continuing care for people with various medical conditions. Whether in the city or in remote human settlements, the primary care doctor is the only friend most people have come to know and trust for their health concerns. In terms of equitable distribution of quality primary healthcare system, the primary care doctors make it possible for the majority of people to enjoy basic healthcare, to give hope for a truly sick free and happy society.
While other sectors of the healthcare system are also important and relevant, healthcare for all underscores the importance of primary care doctors as the central force that holds the entire healthcare system in balance. Without it, it is doubtful if the pillar of healthcare would not have crumbled today. Therefore, it is crucial at this point to take a look at the importance of primary care doctors, in the gamut of modern healthcare system.
How important is the primary care doctors in modern healthcare system?
In order to appreciate the important roles being played by primary care doctors in providing healthcare to the world in the cities and rural communities, let’s consider a few ways they have made themselves available to our health needs. If you consider the following ways, you would probably be able to add more to the list from your personal experience of interacting with a primary care doctor in your locality.
First line of defense: think of the healthcare system as a military operation put in place to fight diseases. Within this big system operation are the primary care doctors who serve as the first line of defense for the entire system. Whatever happens at the other levels of the operation, the Primary care doctor or PCP have vital roles to play in ensuring success of the system. Without the services of this level of doctors, most health seeking people would be completely left uncared for in the healthcare operational plan.
Better preventative care: being the first in the line of defense ensures preventive care that helps to reduce the adversity of health issues taking over the society and slipping out of control of the healthcare operation plan. The primary care doctors’ role help in early detection of what could become a major health crises if undetected. Not only detecting it, they do all they can within their limited resources to contain it.
Personal relationship with the people: ability to control and prevent illness getting out of hand thrives on patient’s history. While other levels of in the healthcare system may try to meet up with this very important role, the fact that primary care doctor have built personalized relationships with most patients makes it easier for them to understand every patient and are able to quickly proffer solutions to their problems. Therefore, a doctor that knows his patience so well is a blessing to the patient, especially in managing such patient in time of serious medical incidence.
Important health partners: In the healthcare system, the primary care doctor plays a vital role in bridging the gap between all ends of the healthcare value chain. He could be the source for recommending certain case to other cadre of health care and also will be the recipient of further care when such level has carried out its part of the job. So, the primary care doctor is both at the point of origination and at the same time point of destination in managing his patient’s health.
Fewer trips to the ER: Often times, a primary care physician can offer useful options that can prevent making unnecessary trips to the emergency room. The condition in the first place may not warrant going to the ER, but without adequate knowledge of the situation, but with timely intervention of the PCP, alternative solution may be offered.
Meeting the need for care: From the forgoing, we need to understand by now the very important role being played by the primary care doctor in making the world move closer to meeting the need for affordable healthcare for all. Whether it is in the remotest part of the villages in the country side, or urban center, primary care doctors are making access to healthcare a reality. Although the access to qualified doctors are still largely inadequate and more hands are still required especially in rural areas, especially in developing countries, but one wonders if the efforts by primary care physician have not bee available, what would have been the state of the world’s healthcare today?
In furtherance of its efforts to bring healthcare closer to the people, most private healthcare investment in small health services both in urban and rural areas are largely championed by primary care doctors. They are found everywhere as general practitioners, opening children and women clinics, bringing healthcare closer to the people. These efforts have been more helpful in providing needed supports to mainstream healthcare systems. Today, many people living with diabetes, high blood pressure, accident victims and management of other life threatening diseases that otherwise could have been handled by emergency room and urgent care are been handled by primary doctors as a stop gap measure where these other facilities are unavailable.
As it is right now, the only medical service provider known to many people, and who probably have impacted the lives of many people whether directly or otherwise are the primary care doctors and the world celebrate them for the crucial roles they are playing in keeping the world safe.
