Why is a primary care physician important?
A primary care physician is trained in the care of many age groups and of both genders. They can take care of many of the common complaints that people have. When needed, they can define the appropriate specialist for a patient to see and can provide interpretation and coordination of specialty services. More recently, with the advance of managed care (e.g. HMO’s and PPO’s) into the area, many plans require you to get referrals from the primary care doctor. In addition, there are problems which an OB-Gyne may not be able to handle.
