Primary care is a diverse field of medicine that diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical conditions while also focusing on the prevention of many common illnesses. A primary care physician develops long-term relationships with their patients and helps manage a multitude of health-related issues throughout their patients’ lives.

Primary care is considered the first-line treatment avenue for all non-emergent medical conditions. Physicians in primary care manage chronic conditions and provide referrals to appropriate specialists when needed.

Having a primary care provider can improve patient access to the entire health system. Primary care practitioners assist patients in navigating their chronic medical conditions, reducing risk factors for diseases, and improving their overall wellness. A primary care clinic is available to provide the day-to-day management of health conditions, evaluate you when you are sick, and provide referrals to specialists when needed.

One important consideration is that many health insurances require a primary care referral to see a specialist. Therefore, a primary care doctor can help improve your access to care. Primary care medicine aims to help you and your family achieve an improved quality of life and a longer, healthier life while reducing the overall cost of medical care.

When choosing which primary care doctor that is best suited to meet your or your family’s needs, consider this short list of characteristics.

• Convenience. A conveniently located office makes it easier to arrange office visits around a busy schedule and obtain care for unexpected health issues.
• Responsiveness. Selecting a clinic that provides quick answers and follow-up to issues regarding patient questions and refills on prescriptions is important.
• Availability. The ability to see a provider quickly for unexpected issues can help improve your care and prevent unnecessary expenses.

If the situation is not life-threatening or limb-threatening, the first step is to reach out to our office. Our staff can help guide your next steps. For injuries or illnesses that are life-threatening or could result in significant disability, the emergency room is best equipped to manage these conditions.

Some symptoms or health conditions requiring ER evaluation include:

• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Slurred speech
• Head injuries resulting in loss of consciousness
• Broken bones or dislocated joints
• Severe burns

While this is not an all-inclusive list, it provides an idea of the severity of illness or injury that requires ER care.

On the other hand, primary care should be sought for any of these conditions:

• Earache
• Cold and flu symptoms like cough, congestion, or sore throat
• Urinary tract infection
• Minor cuts and burns
• Medication refills

If you are not experiencing an emergency and are unsure whether to seek urgent care, call our office, and we can provide you with the guidance you need.

Yes. Complete Health Trussville values each patient’s time and requires patients to schedule an appointment to be seen. This provides every patient with adequate time for their visit. Only accepting appointments for available time slots allows patients to be seen promptly and provides efficient medical care.

New patients should call our office at 205-655-3721 and talk to one of our patient care specialists to schedule an appointment. They will register you in our system and provide you with all available appointment options.

Established patients can use the patient portal to help schedule their next appointment. If you have never used the portal, no problem, follow the easy prompts to create a new account. With an account, patients can access their care anytime and from anywhere.

When preparing for your doctor’s office appointment, it is important to have your current health insurance information and bring any documents you need the doctor to fill out. Have a list of your current medications and vitamins/supplements, with the name, dosage, and frequency of each medication you take. Finally, create a list of questions you want to ask the doctor, this will ensure you make the most of your appointment and leave feeling satisfied all your questions were answered.