We all know health is wealth, right? But how many of us actually take care of it as we really should? Most of us would say, "Yes, we sleep early, work hard, and have a healthy lifestyle." However, the reality is quite different—we don't only need to do good to stay healthy. We must also give due importance to the primary care physician role.
In that context, you must understand the basic as well as advanced role of family physician in primary healthcare. For that, we have explained everything under the topic: Primary Care Physician Role in Every Stage of Your Life.
Let’s check what is discussed in this blog.
Table of Contents
H1: Primary Care Physician Responsibilities
H1: Indus Medical Associates: Dr. Azam and Dr. Parimi
H1: Role of Primary Care Physician in Different Stages of Life
H2: Infancy and Childhood
H2: Young Adults aka Teenagers
H2: Adulthood aka Mid-Adults
H2: Senior or Old Age
H1: Takeaways: Role of Primary Physician in Primary Healthcare
Primary Care Physician Responsibilities
First, we should know the responsibilities of a primary care physician. Then, we have to delve into the stages of human development where the need for a PCP (primary care physician) remains present.
- Early diagnosis of diseases: It is always better to go for a regular check-up. That way, symptoms of chronic or life-threatening illnesses can be traced far ahead. However, to do so, routine assessment is fixed, in which lab (blood) work, X-rays, screenings, physical examinations, etc., are carried out.
- Save Money and Get Regular Check-ups: How can you save money by visiting a doctor twice or thrice a year? Well, it is the best way to avoid medicines and hospitalization. Also, it works better to take out a chunk of money from the bank than to give a major amount in one visit (that gives reasons for several other visits for treatment and diagnosis).
- First-hand, Best Information: Remember, no matter how many times you look up your symptoms on search engines, they won’t give the exact information required. For that, you are bound to see a PCP because it is one of the primary care physician's responsibilities to question health-related concerns for the best diagnosis. The PCP office is the best place to pour all your questions and worries out for clarity.
- Communication Gets Better: if and when you go to one PCP regularly, it becomes easier for the doctor to understand your way of expressing symptoms and signs of diseases, illnesses, and health issues. That way, the PCP gives the best yet most personalized information.
Indus Medical Associates: Dr Azam and Dr Parimi
So, while you look for the best general physicians near Rancho Mirage or Coachella, do one thing. Look for Dr Parimi and Dr Azam. Both these doctors are MDs and have served for decades in the medical fronts. Dr Parimi is from India who has dedicated his life in serving his community. His primary expertise was in handling adult cases (included taking care of patients with hypertension and diabetes). Preventive measures were always an add on in the list of services he rendered.
On the other hand, we have Dr Azam, who worked as an internist and has been an advocate of evidence-based, compassionate care for patients. Since he is an all-rounder, his main area of expertise involves common and intense health concerns (hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and asthma). Dr Azam is all about raising awareness about a healthier lifestyle.
Role of Primary Care Physician in Different Stages of Life
Now that you are aware of the basics, let's delve deeper and get familiar with the following areas;
- Primary Care Physician Responsibilities in Infancy and Childhood
- Role of Primary Care Physician During Adulthood
- Primary Care Physician Role in Adolescence
- Main Responsibilities of a Primary Care Physician in Senior Age
Primary Care Physician Responsibilities in Infancy and Childhood
Once a mother gives birth to a child, he is taken to a hospital or clinic (usually where the child was born) frequently. During the visits, the baby is vaccinated and weighed, and other developmental features and functions are checked. Here is where the role of the primary care physician comes into play.
- Vaccinations are due after every few months. They are given to immunize the body against major health issues like polio, measles, and flu.
- As mentioned above, a baby's growth is crucial in the first few months after birth. This ensures everything is developing accurately without any deformity or speed, cognitive growth, and meeting other age-appropriate milestones.
- Parenting is hard, and so it is the primary care physician's role to give proper guidance to the parents (about the baby's overall health).
- Also, it is the PCP's responsibility to check on behavioral matters. It means the PCP checks and assesses disabilities, if any (including autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, etc.).
Role of Primary Physician in Primary Healthcare During Teen Age & Young Adulthood
Several changes are noticed in adulthood. They concern mental, physical, and emotional health. At this age, it is pretty important to visit a doctor once every two years. However, if serious diagnoses exist, an adult should visit a PCP as suggested. Some of the main primary care physician responsibilities are mentioned below.
- Teenagers and young adults typically go through a lot of emotional as well as mental changes in the body. They are more prone to cope with daily life routine matters and happen to fall into depression, stress, or anxiety more quickly than anyone else. That is major because of two reasons. First, there is academic stress, and second, there are pressures related to the society in which they live. So, a good PCP is the one who regulates everything for them and becomes the source of satisfaction, too.
- It goes without saying that when puberty hits, it becomes difficult to implement safe measures towards personal (hormonal) health concerns. It means that the changes are diagnosed, treated, and prevented from relapsing by the city's best doctors.
- Immunization is required for the best development of the body. Here, administrating and screening health ma tters means periodic vaccinations (for example, HPV).
- Young adults tend to have sports injuries. That is where the role of the primary care physician comes in, including the need to prescribe supplements, suggest good lifestyle habits, etc.
Primary Care Physician Role in Adolescence
Another reason why an adolescent requires a primary care physician is mainly because of three reasons. First, it gives an edge to finding stability and maintaining overall health. Second, the PCPs prevent life-threatening health matters. Third, it is included in the primary care physician responsibilities to reduce and then eliminate life stressors. Other than that, doctors like Dr Parimi and Dr Azam also take care of the following areas.
- Primary care physician role is also to find the chronic disease through family history and then to manage it with the most accurate treatment plan. Also, it is on doctors like Dr Azam to work on managing conditions that prevent an individual so that complications don't occur at any point in life.
- Female health is very different from men's. Therefore, when it comes to family planning, prenatal care, and other matters, primary care physicians refer them to specialists like gynecologists or obstetricians.
- Screenings are carried out to determine the development or decrease in health concerns. Some of the primary routine screenings include colonoscopy, mammograms, and prostrate assessments.
- Lifestyle guidance is given so that an individual can live healthier and longer as expected. Taking care of nutrition and balancing activities with the food/drink intake plays a crucial role in the quality of life. That is where a PCP helps and makes things easy to understand and implement.
- Mental health is also taken care of by a person who comes for a routine check-up.
Main Responsibilities of a Primary Care Physician in Senior Age
It goes without saying that once an individual reaches old age, he is victimized by many health-related issues. If he has already been diagnosed with chronic disease, then it is the time when its management and prevention become significant. Hence, the role of primary physician in primary healthcare is highlighted in this particular age group. We have mentioned a couple of responsibilities of a good PCP below.
- Chronic conditions are taken care of by the primary care physician, along with some specialists. Diseases may include cardiovascular concerns, arthritis, etc.
- Cognitive health is thoroughly and regularly checked to find the trace of age-related diseases. For example, dementia and several other retentions (memory) based problems.
- Vaccinations are there for elderlies so they don’t have to suffer from shingles, flu, pneumonia, etc.
Takeaways: Role of Primary Physician in Primary Healthcare
So, all in all, we can say that no matter what your age is, it is best to consult a primary care physician. Dr Parimi and Dr Azam are there at Indus Medical Associates to assist and guide you on what must be done at your age. Book your appointment now if you are at Rancho Mirage or Coachella.