Primary Care Physician

Core Medical Responsibilities

• First-contact and continuing care:
  Serve as the patient’s main doctor for routine and non-emergency health issues.
• Diagnose and treat common conditions:
  Evaluate and manage symptoms like infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, and seasonal illnesses.
• Perform physical exams:
  Take medical histories, do physical examinations, and order or interpret routine lab tests and imaging.
• Preventive care:
  Provide regular wellness visits, immunizations, screenings (e.g., cancer, cholesterol), and lifestyle counseling.
• Chronic disease management:
  Monitor and adjust long‑term care plans for conditions like asthma, hypertension, obesity, and arthritis.
• Prescribe medications and treatments:
  Select and manage medication regimens and other therapies.

• Specialist referrals:
  When a patient’s condition needs advanced care, the PCP refers them to the appropriate specialist and helps coordinate follow‑up.
• Continuity of care:
  Maintain detailed medical records to track health over time and ensure consistency across visits.
• Medical advocacy:
  Act as a patient’s advocate within the broader healthcare system, helping navigate appointments, tests, and procedures.

• Patient education:
  Explain health conditions, treatment options, preventive strategies, and healthy lifestyle changes.
• Answer questions:
  Respond to patient concerns on symptoms, medications, side effects, and general health.

• Manage office workflow:
  Handle prescription refills, urgent patient messages, and ongoing patient needs throughout the day.
• Documentation:
  Keep accurate electronic health records (EHRs) and comply with clinical and regulatory standards.

• Stay current:
  Keep up-to-date with medical research, best practices, and preventive guidelines to offer evidence-based care.