Primary care is important for people of all ages, but for individuals 65 and over, effective, personalized primary healthcare is particularly important. Seniors have different health needs and challenges, and require high-quality care that is appropriate for their unique needs.
Senior primary care provides a variety of important health services to patients age 65 and over and focuses on building and developing a long-term partnership to ensure patients health needs are fully met. With a focus on diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention, a primary care provider is an integral part of a person’s ongoing health and wellbeing, and is typically the first point of contact when a patient is sick, needs medical advice, or has a health concern.
The Role of a Primary Care Provider
The role of a primary care provider is to deliver continuing and comprehensive healthcare to patients in order to maintain and improve their overall health. They not only provide diagnosis and treatment when a patient is ill, they also work with them when they are healthy to establish effective health maintenance skills. By practicing disease prevention, regularly monitoring medications, providing health education, and suggesting lifestyle changes, a primary care provider can help to improve a patient’s quality of life. They take all of the patient’s health factors into account and work with them to create manageable, sustainable, and effective action plans for better health.
Primary care providers utilize the latest advances in modern medicine to diagnose, treat, and support patients. They are trained in the early detection of medical conditions, which can help to dramatically improve the likelihood of successful treatment when a condition is caught and treated early on.
By providing consistent and comprehensive care to patients, allows primary care providers to oversee and manage a patient’s overall healthcare to ensure their needs are met and to prevent problems in the future. If specialty care is necessary, a primary care provider can refer a patient to the appropriate specialist and can coordinate and oversee their care, giving patients peace of mind that they are receiving the most personalized care possible.
What Services Does A Senior Primary Care Provide?
Primary care physicians are well-trained experts who can provide a diverse range of important health services to help patients stay healthy and to prevent future illness. This can include:
- Thorough assessments and physical exams
- Diagnosis and treatment of many acute illnesses and chronic health conditions
- Prescribing and managing medications
- Minor wound care
- Preventive screenings, as appropriate
- Early detection of emerging medical conditions
- Health education and guidance for the prevention of illness and disease
- Telehealth services to address new health concerns, follow-up care, and to identify if medical attention is required for an illness or injury
- Vaccines and immunizations
- Referral, coordination, and oversight when specialty care is necessary
- Ongoing monitoring of chronic medical conditions
Primary care providers can also help provide suitable treatment and support when patients have urgent care needs.
Prompt Diagnosis and Treatment of Illnesses
When a patient feels unwell or is experiencing unfamiliar symptoms, a primary care provider is often the first point of contact to ensure a medical condition or illness is diagnosed and treated promptly and effectively. Primary care providers can diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including:
- Aches and pains
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis, coughs, asthma, and COPD
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Allergies
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Infections
- Gastrointestinal disorders, such as constipation, acid reflux, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
- Sleep disorders
They can thoroughly evaluate a medical condition and request further diagnostic testing or specialist care, if and when necessary, to ensure the condition is treated as effectively and quickly as possible.
Early Detection and Management of Health Conditions
Over time, patients can establish a long-term relationship with their primary care provider, which along with regular checkups and appropriate screening tests, can help to improve the odds of a primary care provider detecting potential red flags for a chronic medical condition. Early detection significantly improves the success of treatment. Because a primary care provider has a thorough knowledge of a patients personal and family medical history, they can ensure treatment is tailored to the patient’s exact health needs. A condition can be treated within the context of a patient’s broader health, especially if there are multiple chronic diseases that need to be managed appropriately.
Primary care is beneficial for people through all stages of life; however, it can be even more important as we age, offering comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare to ensure better health outcomes.
Senior Primary Care in Central Florida and South Florida
Studies show that having a primary care provider you trust and visit regularly can significantly improve your quality of life and prevent future illness.
If you are looking for high-quality value-based primary healthcare services that can help keep you healthy as you age, contact Palm Medical Centers. We have a diverse and dedicated team to oversee your care and provide you with personalized attention and a variety of health and wellness services, including primary care, lab services, unlimited transportation, pharmacy, wellness activities, optometry, massage therapy, acupuncture, and more.
To learn more about our senior primary care services, call us at (833) 500-7256 (PALM), or you can contact us online.
