Why Do You Need a Primary Care Doctor?

The human body is capable of some incredible things and works wonders on a daily basis, but it’s not perfect. It’s prone to a number of diseases, abnormalities, illnesses, injuries, and other conditions that require the immediate help of a doctor, physician, or other health professional.

In fact, most health professionals recommend visiting a doctor every year for preventive reasons – whether or not you’re experiencing unwanted symptoms. With an annual visit to your doctor’s office, you can better maintain your health and prevent disease over the long-term.

The CDC estimates that there are over 860 million visits to a physician’s office every year and roughly 50% of those visits are to a primary care physician. They also estimate that over 83% of all American adults have visited a doctor in the past year, as well as 94% of children in the US.

With that said, what is a primary care doctor and why do you need one? Are they any different from a medical specialist? What can they do for you that you can’t already do yourself? Is it actually worth an annual visit? Don’t worry, we’re going to answer all those questions below!

Primary Care Physician vs. Medical Specialist

A primary care physician – also known as a family medicine doctor, a general practitioner, or a primary doctor – are often the patient’s first point of entry into the health care system. They have a broad range of knowledge about the body and all of its systems, making them a great first resource.



Primary care physicians help prevent disease by maintaining long-term health and detecting illness in its earliest stages. Meeting with your primary care physician regularly – preferably once per year – is essential to staying healthy and goes a long way in living a long life.

On the other hand, a medical specialist is someone that specializes in a certain area or branch of medicine. They have additional training, degrees, certifications, and licenses that make them an expert in their specific field. For example, a gastroenterologist specializes in digestive health and internal medicine doctors are called internists.

Your primary care doctor and medical specialists often work together in treating you. Most people will visit their primary care doctor once per year and if they think something needs a closer look, then they’ll refer you to a medical specialist before meeting back with the primary.

Why Do You Need a Primary Care Doctor?

Primary care providers play an essential and vital role in an individual’s ability to live a happy, healthy, long, meaningful, rewarding, and quality life. A regular appointment with your primary care doctor goes a long way in maintaining your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Having a primary care doctor in your corner will give anyone a sense of comfortability as they grow older and introduce them to better health outcomes in the future. The human body can experience an issue at any time, but your primary care doctor can help you navigate and overcome those issues. Let’s look at some of the other benefits!

Build a Lasting Relationship

Some people will see the same primary doctor for years, if not decades. This lasting relationship that you build with your doctor is essential to building an accurate medical history record and receiving the proper care or treatment. Plus, you’ll feel more comfortable and open about your health.

Prevention & Detection

Primary care doctors specialize in detecting problem areas and preventing health problems in people of all ages. With regular testing and screenings, your doctor will learn a lot about your current health and where it’s trajecting – allowing you to make any necessary life changes.



Referrals to Specialists

Much like we discussed above, your primary care provider will be able to refer you to the right specialist when something needs further assessment. They can help you find a specialist with the necessary experience and knowledge, ensuring you receive an accurate diagnosis.

Improve Overall Health & Wellness

Primary healthcare providers excel in giving patients general tips and advice to follow when improving overall health and wellness. These general tips can help improve your sleeping habits, eating habits, weight goals, and stress management techniques. This can prove to be vital to health.

Lower Health Care Costs Long-Term

When medical bills start arriving in your mailbox, panic starts to hit as you finally see just how expensive health care can be. If you want to limit those bills by preventing disease and catching illness in its early stages, then visiting your primary care physician regularly is what you need!

Less Hospital Visits & Trips to the ER

Piggybacking off that last benefit, most people that visit their primary care physician regularly will be rewarded with less trips to the hospital or ER – again, through disease prevention and early detection. Considering how expensive the hospital and ER can be, this is good news!

Add a Trusted Professional to Your Support Group

We all have a support group that we turn to when things go south. Whether you need medical advice, relationship advice, financial advice, or just need some motivation to get you through the day, your support group is there for you. With a primary doctor, you add a true professional to that group!

How Often Should You Visit Your Primary Care Doctor?

While there’s no concrete answer to this question and it might be different for everyone, most doctors recommend healthy patients visit a primary care provider once per year for a checkup. This allows the doctor to evaluate your health on a regular basis over a long period of time.

With that said, some people might need to visit more often than that – twice per year, or even more than that. This is especially true for older individuals and those with chronic conditions. Either way, you should follow the direct advice of your primary care provider – they’ll know best!

Are You Searching for a Primary Care Provider?

Everyone should have a long-term relationship with their primary care primary care provider, no matter where they live. If you’re searching for a Las Vegas primary care doctor that takes pride in helping Vegas residents stay happy and healthy, then you’ve come to the right place!

Contact Good Samaritan LV today to schedule your first appointment with Dr. Shaun Jang – the Las Vegas primary care doctor you’ve been looking for. We can’t wait to meet you and your family!