There are many different factors that determine how much the cost will be when scheduling a primary care appointment, but the most determining one is insurance status.

Uninsured patients pay an average of $107 for primary care, while insured patients pay roughly $25.

For more information on the costs of primary care, please check out our article “How Much Does Primary Care Cost?“.

Primary care has a wide array of services such as: preventative care, health maintenance, patient education, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses both acute and chronic. A primary care physician is often in close collaboration with other healthcare professionals to make sure that all their patients receive the best care possible.

Some of the health care services that we offer include:

• • Annual Physical Exams
  • Telehealth
  • Chronic Disease Prevention and Diagnosis
  • Pap Smear Testing
  • Blood Screening
  • EKG Testing
  • STD & STI Diagnosis / Treatment
  • Acute & Sick Care
  • Drug Testing
  • Myer’s IV Therapy

In addition to these primary care services, our primary care physician works together with our other specialists to create comprehensive care plans that may include chiropractic, massage therapy, nutritional plans, and mental health counseling.

For more detailed information, please check out our blog post What Are Primary Care Services.

Yes! It is important to have a first line of defense against any health conditions. Scheduling regular checkups with your primary care physician is an excellent form of preventative care than can protect you from issues such as: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and other chronic conditions. 

The top reasons to have a primary care specialist include:

• Lower Healthcare Costs
• Higher Level of Comfort
• Identify Health Issues
• Avoid ER Visits
• Referrals to Other Providers

Learn more about the data behind these reasons in our blog post 4 Reasons Why You Need A Primary Care Physician.

Choosing the right primary care physician for your specific healthcare needs is crucial.

Some of the factors to consider include:

• Area of focus
• Health insurance
• Proximity
• Scheduling
• Staff
• Reputation
• Treatment approach

Feel free to check out our article How To Choose A Primary Care Physician (12 Tips!) to learn more.

Unfortunately, yes there is a shortage of primary care physicians in the United States. Depending on the community that you live it, it is becoming more difficult to find a PCP that is accepting new patients and is able to see you within a reasonable amount of time.

Some of the causes for this physician shortage include:

• Increasing populations
• Primary care residency caps
• Demographics
• Retirement age considerations
• Potential increase in demand from underserved patient populations
• Decreased interest from medical school graduates

If you would like to learn more details about this topic, check out our new article Primary Care Physician Shortage.

Primary care depends on your age, stage of life, and clinical complexity. Everyone is unique and has different healthcare concerns that need to be addressed. 

Some of the most common types of primary care physicians include:

• Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatrician
• Internal Medicine Doctor
• Geriatrician
• OBGYN
• Physician Assistant

To learn more about what each of these specialties entails, please check out our article “What Does Primary Care Involve?“.

While many people are familiar with primary care, the term “secondary care” may be heard around a medical clinic, but as a patient the meaning is often not known.

Simply put, primary care is the first point of contact for patients with an unknown health concern. Once it is diagnosed, the patient may be referred to a specialist who is better equipped to treat the specific issue that the patient is having.

If you would like to learn more about primary care vs secondary care, please check out our article “What Is Primary Care vs Secondary Care?“.

The most important steps that you can take when you have an unexpected injury or illness is choosing the right type of care for your specific needs. 

Generally, unlike primary care clinics that see patients on weekdays during normal operating hours, urgent care clinics have extended hours including holidays and weekends where walk in patients can be treated. Please check out our article “Primary Care vs Urgent Care” to help you make the most informed choice. 

If it is not a life threatening injury or illness, it is best to see your PCP as they have a deep understanding of your medical history and specific healthcare needs.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a relatively new way to provide health services for local patients outside of the traditional insurance provider based structure. This usually involves a monthly or yearly paid contract directly with your provider in exchange for a wide variety of specialties. This may be attractive for patients who are uninsured and need consistent care.

South Pointe Healthcare is not a DPC clinic. 

If you would like to learn more about DPC, check out our article What Is Direct Primary Care.