How a Primary Care Provider Helps You Manage Chronic Disease
How a Primary Care Provider Helps You Manage Chronic Disease
In the United States, 76.4% of adults are living with at least one chronic condition, and 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans are due to a chronic illness. From diabetes to asthma and high blood pressure to heart disease, chronic conditions can encompass a variety of health problems.
Managing a chronic condition can feel like a lot to handle. A primary care provider (PCP) is important to help you manage your disease, connect you with specialists, and conduct routine preventive care.
“Chronic conditions can be complicated and change over time, so being able to see the same provider who knows you and your medical history is really important,” says Margaret Solomon, MD, an internal medicine physician and pediatrician at University of Utah Health. “Following up regularly with a PCP for monitoring and adjusting medicine can make sure chronic diseases are treated well, reducing the chances of having complications.”
Your PCP Is Your Health Care Partner
Think of your PCP as your home base for chronic disease management. Over time, they learn about your health history, needs, and goals. That relationship helps your PCP provide care that works for you.
Your PCP can help:
- Provide regular screenings, checkups, and preventive care
- Guide you through lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet or starting an exercise program
- Help you understand your condition and treatment options
- Review medications and make changes when needed
- Refer you to specialists when you need additional care
That ongoing relationship is more than managing a diagnosis.
“Relationships matter,” Solomon says. “A patient is much more than their medical conditions, and having a PCP who knows about your family and what is important to you can celebrate milestones with you and support you when you are grieving. That is very important to your overall well-being.”
When to See Your PCP, Urgent Care, or the Emergency Room
For most ongoing concerns related to a chronic condition, start with your PCP. Because they know you and your medical history, they can help manage everyday concerns and changes in your condition.
Urgent care centers and the emergency room are not designed for ongoing disease management. They aren’t designed to replace the ongoing care you receive from a PCP.
Urgent care may be an option when your PCP’s office is closed and the situation is not an emergency.
Some symptoms may require emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe chest pain
- Sudden confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Slurred speech
When you’re unsure where to go for care, your PCP’s office can also help you understand your options.
Finding the Right PCP
Primary care providers at University of Utah Health work as part of a larger health care team. As part of an academic health system, they can connect patients with specialists and other resources when a health concern requires additional expertise.
“In our PCP clinics, we have specialized pharmacists, social workers, and care managers who can help you get the best care,” Solomon says. “PCPs can help patients see a University of Utah specialist who is an expert in their area for concerns that go beyond primary care. We work closely with specialists as a team to care for the patient.”
Primary Care for Every Stage of Life
U of U Health has PCPs who can help you manage your health and chronic conditions throughout your life. This includes:
- 550 family medicine physicians
- 200 internists
- 280 pediatricians
- 17 geriatricians
- 12 primary care locations across Utah
A Long-Term Partner in Your Health
If you have a chronic condition but don’t have a PCP, it’s never too late to find one.
You don’t have to wait until you’re sick, either. Regular primary care can help you stay on top of screenings, identify health concerns earlier, and take steps to prevent some chronic diseases.
Whether you’re managing a chronic condition or working to stay healthy, a PCP can be a trusted partner who helps you navigate your health care at every stage of life.
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