What's primary care medicine?
As one of the most comprehensive forms of medicine, primary care pairs patients with a family medicine physician who becomes their go-to provider for everyday medical issues and routine preventive care needs.
As primary care physicians who specialize in providing patient-centered care, the team at St. Luke's Healthcare and Wellness is specially trained to:
- Conduct physical exams and wellness checkups
- Perform routine preventive health screenings
- Investigate and diagnose unexplained symptoms
- Diagnose and treat acute illnesses and injuries
- Manage chronic disease with coordinated care
The team is also trained to recognize the early signs and symptoms of chronic illness, provide a timely diagnosis, and determine which treatment strategies are most effective.
What does acute care cover?
Acute care is the area of primary care medicine that's dedicated to diagnosing and treating the kinds of short-term illnesses, abrupt symptoms, and minor injuries that require prompt medical attention.
The team at St. Luke's Healthcare and Wellness offers convenient acute care for patients affected by a wide range of common acute illnesses and conditions, including:
- Cold and sinus infections
- Fever, flu, and pneumonia
- Cough and bronchitis
- Earache and sore throat
- Headaches and migraines
- Urinary tract infections
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Itchy insect bites and rashes
They also provide as-needed acute care visits for patients with minor allergic reactions and mild asthma attacks.
How can preventive care help me?
Disease management and acute care are just two of the three foundational pillars of primary care — the third, and arguably most important, is preventive care.
In meeting your everyday health needs, quality primary care also strives to keep your health risks in check and reduce your chances of developing a chronic illness like heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
The team at St. Luke's Healthcare and Wellness uses annual physicals, wellness checkups, screening tests, and patient-specific health screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies to uncover hidden risk factors and diagnose existing health conditions early on.
Having regular preventive care exams and screenings makes it easier to identify and manage a variety of potential health issues, including:
- Prediabetic conditions
- Increasing body weight
- High blood pressure
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels
Finding and treating these common health problems before they have time to progress can help lower your chances of heart attack or stroke and keep you from developing full-blown diabetes or heart disease.
To learn more about primary care, call your nearest St. Luke's Healthcare and Wellness office today or click online to schedule a visit.
