Let’s assume you had a great time at party day before meeting, the most important one. But when you wake up in the morning, you notice a runny nose, palpitating head with excruciating pain, and sore throat.
What would be the best solution? Who would you consult? Which hospital would be your option?
All of that depends on two factors. First, do you have contacts of the best doctors in United States? Second, why would you go to specialty care or primary care doctors?
This blog is for all those who need to know the difference between specialty care and primary care.
But for now, to understand the basics know that if you are taken to the nearest hospital in Coachella or Rancho Mirage, Indus Medical Associates. You will experience a lot more than expected.
What Happens After Reaching Hospital in an ED?
What happens if the patient goes by himself to an ED? Is there any difference when you go to the ED in an ambulance? Well, yes. There is a lot of difference. For example, a different procedure is carried out if someone goes to the ED all by himself/herself as compared to when he is rushed to the ER in an ambulance.
Here is what actually happens: as soon as someone reaches a hospital’s Emergency Department, triage procedure starts. In this procedure, the patient’s condition is assessed along with other aspects (medical history and symptoms). In addition to it, vitals are also taken to understand if the patient must be checked before other patients or not.
After that, a registration process takes place. What happens in this step? Well, consent is obtained, and health insurance is discussed at length. If someone doesn’t have health insurance, he/she is sent for a financial counseling session.
What next? The third step is treatment, and right after that, the patient is reevaluated. Once everything is checked and assured, the patient is discharged from the hospital.
Fun Fact: The scenario and procedure completely change if the patient is taken to the hospital or ED via ambulance.
Primary Care: Detailed Explanation
Primary care in any hospital encapsulates eighty percent of the healthcare department. Your GP (general physician), who is usually the best doctor, takes responsibility for the following areas;
- Spotting the healthcare concerns that run in the family history
- Blood work, screenings, x-rays, MRIs, etc. of the patient
- The patient’s medical history
- Taking vitals of the patient (blood pressure, weight, etc.)
- Governing lifestyle complications and factors
Primary care best doctors work on all the above-mentioned areas to ensure reduced chances of risking life (because of the disease), diagnose illnesses before they turn into a life-threatening one, and take the patient out of the diseases even after treatment (this is categorized as “preventive care management”).
What else is under the responsibility of a good primary care doctor?
There are several other responsibilities on the shoulders of these highly trained physicians. The most important responsibilities of a medical professional are listed below;
PCP Give Referrals to Specialty Care Doctors
The primary care physicians refer patients to the specialty care unit. Specialists like dentists, cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, etc. help in treatment and further diagnosis of the disease. That helps the patient to get back to normal, healthy life without any hassle. However, going to a PCP (primary care physician) allows the patient to reach specialists conveniently.
Guidance on Health and Wellbeing
PCP also takes an active part in guiding patients. It means they help them through health insurance, extreme cases of medical assistance in getting medical loans, etc.
Preventive Measures from PCP in Screening, Tests, Etc.
Preventive care unit is where the entire team of professionals keeps the patient healthy. However, if you ask what do they do to help a patient maintain health – it is about drawing conclusions based on screening, x-rays, vaccines, and other lab work. All of these procedures are carried out on a monthly basis so that the best doctors in the United States can recommend the most suitable lifestyle options.
An Overall Health of an Individual
Other than that, PCPs take complete holistic healthcare into their own hands. That is done through formulating a proper team for complicated health issues. So, on the team, there are health advocates, lead physicians, medical assistants, wellness advisors, and physician’s assistants. Overall health concerns, comparisons of the current and the past health situations, and other surfaced concerns are taken care by the PCP. All of these procedures take place once in 4 months.
Early Diagnosis of an Acute or Chronic Disease
Not just all that is mentioned above, is it! There is a lot more to it. Well, who helps a patient with chronic diseases and health concerns? It is the primary care practitioners, right? They are the professionals who assist asthmatic patients and individuals with diabetes, heart-related diseases, and hypertension.
Are You Sure There is a Need for a Primary Care Physician?
Many of us face confusion on choosing primary care best doctors. They are baffled because they are not clear with the concept of when and what to consult a PCP. Let’s check what else is handled by the best doctors in United States.
Managing Complex Conditions
With the help of a primary care practitioner, diabetics and hypertension (and other complicated diseases) patients live longer than expected. It is possible because of two reasons. First of all, PCPs are the best doctors to deal with the apparent symptoms of the disease. Secondly, these professionals also take care of recurring symptoms and triggers of chronic ailments. Usually, and mostly, these doctors recommend healthy and safe lifestyle changes.
Mental Health Provision
Common mental health concerns are typically catered by a good primary care provider. For example, stress and fatigue are handled carefully by the PCP. But when it comes to elongated depression and acute anxiety, specialty care comes into action. The main agenda of any PCP is in a case where depression and anxiety are traced. PCP refers patients to specialty care units or specialists in the field.
Preventive Care by Primary Care Physicians
Okay, so here is another thing about primary care doctors. They are your go-to in order to gett vaccine shots, screenings like MRI and x-ray, mammograms, blood pressure readings, cancer screening, and colonoscopies.
Health Education
Primary care doctors have a vital role in imparting health related awareness. For example, in the times of Covid19, PCP like Dr. Parimi and Dr. Azam of Indus Medical Associates were the ones who helped the community to know ins and outs of the pandemic condition. They also help the community in knowing different options of vaccines, continuation and start of healthy and balanced diet to combat covid.
Specialty Care: In-depth Information
Okay, now that we have discussed PCP and primary care in detail. Let’s hop on to “specialty care”.
What is a Specialty Care?
These are not the regular doctors with a medical degree, completion of residency, and a few years into treating patients. Specialists in the specialty care unit of any hospital are those who have studied and mastered the art of diagnosing, treating, and giving preventive measures for a particular disease. Even a doctor who knows how to handle and manage functionalities of a particular organ is categorized as “specialist.”
The next question that might be asked is – what do these specialty care doctors do?
Well, they help in the following areas;
Specialized Treatments
Specific and targeted treatments are carried out by specialty care best doctors in United States. It includes full-fledged surgeries, therapies if needed, medications, and their treatments.
Advanced Diagnostics
Precise diagnosis is specialty care doctor’s forte. They are the ones who get lab work, screening, tests, and other procedures done to get to the most accurate findings.
In-depth and Extensive Knowledge of the Disease
Specialists are doctors who have studied one disease or health condition in depth. That makes them extremely aware of the organ, the most recent and oldest findings about the organ, and an extremely sound knowledge of everything about that particular organ. It allows them to provide the most holistic and extensive health care.
Are You Sure There is a Need for Specialty Care Good Doctor?
All right, the following are some of the best ways to know if you really need a specialty care doctor or the best doctors in the United States.
When a PCO Refers You to a Specialist
You definitely need a specialty care doctor if and when your PCP asks to consult with a specialist. It is because PCP as compared to you, have more insight and experience to tell if you need a specialist or not.
Particular Health Condition
You are asked to consult a specialty care doctor if there is a complicated and chronic health condition. That condition is usually such where surgeries or time bound and hard treatments are carried out.
Decide Which is Best in the Given Scenario – Primary Care or Specialty Care
See, there is always a better way to figure out the need for a specialty care professional and or the best doctors in the primary care unit. Tt is to consult a PCP and then follow his suggestions as to how to consult a specialty care doctor.
Remember, a PCP is the one who will determine whether there is a need to consult a specialist or not. However, you should visit Indus Medical Associates and book a consultation with their primary care doctor for the best guidance regarding dealing with and maintaining a good, healthy life.