One of the best
things someone can do for their health is maintain wellness exams with a
primary care provider they know and trust. Not only does a strong relationship
with a provider lead to better health outcomes, research shows this connection
can even lead to lower death rates.
For these reasons,
Aspirus is paying special attention to National Primary Care Week to encourage
people of all ages to take an active role in strengthening their relationship
with their provider, now more than ever.
“Your provider is
the lead person on your health care team and they are focused on helping you to
prevent disease and maintain good health,” says Melanie Hellrood, MD, Aspirus
Family Health Physician. “Their specialty is diagnosing and treating a wide variety
of illness. And when needed, they work collaboratively with other specialists
for the best health outcomes.”
There are a number
of health care providers who fall into the primary care category, including
family physicians and pediatricians. Family physicians diagnose and treat
problems that occur anywhere in the body and deal with most kinds of diseases
for people of all ages. Pediatricians are experts in children’s health. They
work on preventing and managing health problems for newborns on up to teens and
young adults.
Other medical
professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, serve as
primary care providers. These professionals work in conjunction with a primary
care physician.
As a rule of thumb,
when choosing a primary care provider, many look for someone they will feel
comfortable with.
“Now more than ever,
people are counting on us to keep them as safe and healthy as possible and
that’s why it’s so important to have a strong connection with a provider you
feel comfortable with,” says Hellrood. “We are in this for the long haul and
here to take care of you with the quality and compassion you deserve.”
To help find the
perfect primary care provider for you, contact the Aspirus Welcome Center at
833.811.4176.