What is a primary care physician?
A. A Primary Care Physician is trained to manage you entire health care program. Primary Care Physicians typically include Family/General Practitioners, Internists, and Pediatricians. If you choose an HMO plan, you will usually be required to select a PCP from the available network. With a PPO plan, you usually are not required to select a PCP. You are available to visit any physician within the network. Online Provider Directories are available from your insurance company this site can also assist you in searching for physicians and/or hospitals.
BCBSNC believes in the value of maintaining a relationship with a primary care provider. These providers are general practice, family practice, internal medicine and pediatric doctors who deal with a broad range of health care issues. They also help members manage their health and make decisions about their health care needs. In addition, participating primary care providers participate in cost-saving quality assurance and utilization management programs. They also coordinate patient care, allowing the patient to easily navigate the health care system. These activities serve to enhance the physician-patient relationship, as well as increase the practice of cost-effective, high-quality medicine.
A primary care physician specializes in the delivery of medical care to all age groups. The primary care physician in many cases also will deliver many types of gynecological care, is knowledgeable in the area of dermatology, sports medicine, gastroenterology, urology and orthopedics. In many cases the primary care physician is also able to do many types of testing in the office, including laboratory, stress testing, minor dermatological procedures.
