A primary care appointment serves as the first point of contact to access the entire healthcare system. A primary care practitioner can evaluate the whole body and treat a wide variety of medical conditions. Depending on your needs, the primary care appointment can be geared toward managing chronic diseases, performing a sick visit check-up, or evaluating the need for a specialist.

A large number of health insurance plans require a primary care doctor to provide a referral to see a specialist. Therefore, having a primary care doctor can improve your access to the medical care you need. During an appointment, the primary care providers at Complete Health can help arrange appropriate screening tests and provide education for achieving a healthier lifestyle. Having a primary care provider is associated with an improved quality of life and reduced overall cost of medical care.

Regardless of your age, a yearly primary care appointment is essential to maintain your health. The annual exam allows your physician to provide appropriate preventative screening measures and evaluate for the development of common medical conditions as you age. Staying current on preventative screening is important for identifying and treating health issues early which can dramatically improve the chances of successful treatment.

Finding the best primary care doctor to provide care for you or your family comes down to your specific needs. For example, if you need one doctor capable of caring for the entire family, then a family medicine doctor may be the best choice as they care for children and adults. However, if you are an adult wanting a doctor for yourself, either an internal medicine or a family medicine doctor would be a good choice.

In primary care, obstetrics and gynecologists provide care to the female population and specialize in women’s health. In addition, pediatricians provide treatment to children under 18 years of age. Therefore, the convenience and needs of the family are often the most common determinants of the best type of doctor to see for your primary care needs.

When evaluating primary care offices in Edgewater, it is important to consider these five items.

• “In-Network” providers. Check with your health plan to see if the clinic’s practitioners are considered “in-network” to avoid any surprise charges or uncovered medical expenses. Ensure the clinic has a doctor who accepts Medicare if that is your primary insurance.
• Expertise meets your health needs. Selecting a doctor who provides the healthcare services needed for you or your family is essential to identifying the best provider.
• Referrals. Elicit opinions from other family members, friends, and co-workers to see who they use as a primary care physician. This provides first-hand knowledge about the provider and gives you a basis for your decision.
• Logistics. Select a doctor’s office close to home, work, or your child’s school. This reduces the hassle of driving to appointments and allows you to obtain a quick check-up when you are sick.
• Make an appointment. Set up an initial appointment to ensure you feel comfortable and confident with the primary care provider. If not, there is no harm in transferring care to a different physician.

Yes. The Complete Health Edgewater location requires all patients to schedule an appointment before they can be seen. This ensures that our practitioners have ample time to provide high-quality medical care while respecting each patient’s time.

New and established patients can schedule an appointment by calling our office at 386-423-1888 and talking to one of our patient care specialists. They can register and provide you with various open appointment options.

For your first appointment, please bring your current health insurance information and any forms needing to be completed by the doctor. Have a list of all your current medications, vitamins, and supplements with their name, dosages, and frequency in which you take them. Formulate a list of questions and concerns to be brought up during your appointment. This helps you remember to talk about specific concerns and will improve the quality of the visit.