What is a primary care physician (PCP)?

A primary care physician is a contracted physician (general or family practitioner, internist, pediatrician and sometimes obstetrician/gynecologist). HMOs use PCPs to serve as the initial screening, testing, treatment and referral source for members. Generally, the PCP assumes continuing responsibility for the overall course of treatment of the member. PCPs often act as gatekeepers for HMOs, determining if a member's illness requires treatment by specialists, and/or hospital care. A member usually selects a network PCP at time of initial enrollment with an HMO and can change PCPs with prior notification to the HMO.  more

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first, or primary, source of medical care - your personal doctor. When you enroll with the John Muir Physician Network, you choose a PCP who will coordinate your health care services. The PCP you choose coordinates your medical care, including checkups, referrals to specialists, lab and x-ray services and hospital admissions. PCP-based care is an effective way to maintain better health: regular physician visits help build strong, secure doctor-patient relationships.

The term "Primary Care Physician" does not mean that the physician is the primary provider of your care. Rather, primary care is an approach to medicine that, as defined by the American Medical Association, provides: "a broad range of personal medical care (preventive, diagnostic, palliative, therapeutic, curative, counseling and rehabilitative) in a manner that is accessible, comprehensive and coordinated by a licensed MD/DO physician over time." Please note three key elements of this definition: (1) The PCP provides preventive care, (2) the care is "comprehensive" -- i.e., the physician evaluates multiple body systems and considers a wide range of underlying causes of symptoms, and (3) the care is ongoing and "over time." There are four types of physicians who specialize in primary care: internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, and general practice (which is no longer offered to med students as a career choice).  more

A primary care physician, or PCP, is your first or primary source of medical care - your personal doctor. The PCP you choose coordinates all of your medical care, from your annual checkups to referrals to specialists, lab and x-ray services, and hospital admissions. PCP-based care is an effective way to maintain better health; regular physician visits build strong, secure doctor-patient relationships.  more

A PCP is the doctor you select to be your personal physician. As a member of ABMG, your Primary Care Physician (PCP) works with you to make decisions about your care and to recommend specialists when medically appropriate. Your PCP plays many roles - primary caregiver, health care advisor, coordinator of specialty care and patient advocate. PCPs can include: • Family/General Practitioners (Doctors who treat patients of all ages) • Internists (Doctors who treat adults and may have a subspecialty) • Pediatricians (Doctors who treat children) To choose a PCP within ABMG, please contact Customer Service at 866.681.0737. They can help you find the right doctor and answer questions about a physician's education, specialty, sub-specialty, office locations, hours, and languages spoken.  more

A primary care physician (PCP) is responsible for coordinating all of your healthcare needs, including managing your annual exams, preventive care, routine illnesses and minor injuries, prescription medications and referrals to specialists and hospitals. Learn tips about how to select a physician.  more

A Primary Care Physician (PCP) is the doctor you select to be your personal physician. He or she can be specialized in Internal Medicine, Family Practice or Pediatrics. The relationship you have with your PCP is very important. You will work with your PCP to manage your health, and he/she will authorize visits to most specialists when necessary (except for visits to OB/GYN specialists, which can be made without a referral).  more

A. A PCP is the doctor you choose to be your primary source for medical care and will coordinate all of your medical care, including hospital admissions and referrals. If you have health maintenance organization Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or point of service Point of Service (POS) coverage you will be required to have a PCP on file, check your benefit booklet for more information on PCPs.  more

Your primary care doctor will serve as your regular doctor, managing your care and working with you to make most of the medical decisions about your care as a patient. In many plans, care by specialists is only paid for if you are referred by your primary care doctor. An HMO or a POS plan will provide you with a list of doctors from which you will choose your primary care doctor (usually a family physician, internists, obstetrician-gynecologist, or pediatrician). This could mean you might have to choose a new primary care doctor if your current one does not belong to the plan. PPOs allow members to use primary care doctors outside the PPO network (at a higher cost). Indemnity plans allow any doctor to be used.  more

A PCP is the doctor you select to be your personal physician. As a member of ABMG, your Primary Care Physician (PCP) works with you to make decisions about your care and to recommend specialists when medically appropriate. Your PCP plays many roles - primary caregiver, health care advisor, coordinator of specialty care and patient advocate.