Primary care physicians (PCPs) tend to a broad range of common health care needs of children, teens, and adults. These needs stem from lifestyle choices, socioeconomic factors, heredity, and more. Accordingly, PCPs play an important role in education, coordination of treatments and services, and identification of community trends that contribute to health problems. Let’s explore how your primary care doctor in Tucson, AZ, responds to public health concerns in the community at large.
A Patient’s First Line of Contact
A PCP diagnoses and treats acute and chronic diseases and injuries and provides preventive care to ward off age- and risk factor-related diseases such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. It is the first doctor a patient contacts when they have a health concern or need.
Additionally, a PCP maintains patients’ medical records, coordinates specialty care, performs routine physicals, prescribes medications and therapies, and educates patients on ways to stay active and healthy. In short, primary care physicians are the medical home for patients of all ages, and because of their extensive training in internal or family medicine, they oversee patient care in a holistic way.
What is Public Health?
Public health advocates for the well-being and safety of people in the communities in which they learn, live, and work. Public health advocates and professionals help set health care standards (for safety in the workplace, for example) and educate people on how to stay healthy.
Additionally, public health encompasses efforts to codify best health practices into law and helps determine ways to stop the spread of disease. For instance, food manufacturers are required to provide nutritional information on product packaging. Other examples are the evidence-based facts which made car seat belts and airbags mandatory and set vaccination schedules.
Public Health And Primary Care Doctors
People such as first responders, social workers, nurses, physicians, food inspectors, and more are part of public health. Health care providers in private practice play a significant role in advancing quality of life, wellness, and equitable access to health care throughout their immediate communities and in the country as a whole.
While you may not think about it, your PCP continually assesses health needs and risks, disseminates information on nutrition, exercise, and medications, as well as other preventive strategies and treatment measures. They are acquainted with populations in the community and can help track trends with issues such as:
- Smoking, alcohol, and illegal drug use
- Personal safety measures, such as home smoke alarms and emergency preparedness
- Bullying, online and in school
- Domestic and elder abuse
- Access for the handicapped and disabled
- Nutrition and fitness habits
- Spread of communicable diseases, including the flu and coronavirus
The PCP’s highly refined assessment, communication, networking, and planning skills, as well as their participation in professional and charitable organizations, make them an invaluable community resource. In short, primary care physicians protect and promote good health on a patient by patient basis and look outside clinic walls to the well-being of the general population.
Robert E. Lending–Your Primary Care Physician in Tucson, AZ
As a PCP and concierge physician, Dr. Lending has developed long-term relationships with his patients and within the surrounding community. His emphasis on preventive care, education, and individualized treatment plans is second to none.
To learn more about his interest in public health, call (520) 795-4291 today for a consultation, or use our online form to request your appointment.
