Primary care providers have a critical role to play in the healthcare system. Aside from rendering medical care, primary care providers teach and empower patients to make the wisest decisions about their health as well as facilitate care coordination for when patients might need advanced treatment.
When choosing the right primary care provider, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are different types out there. Which one is right for you will depend on a number of factors, such as your personal healthcare needs, age, and gender. There are some primary care providers who treat patients of all ages, while there are those who focus on a particular age group or patient population (i.e., children or adults). Read on to learn about the most common types of primary care providers.
Family Medicine Providers
Family medicine providers can render care for all people of ages— from newborns to the elderly. This makes them a good choice if you are looking for a healthcare provider for not just you but for your entire family. Family medicine providers can provide highly personalized care for all members of your family, and they can communicate with patients in an age-appropriate way.
Internal Medicine Providers
Internal medicine doctors, also known as internists, focus on providing care for the full range of health issues affecting the adult population. While internists can provide many of the same services as family medicine providers do, they can undergo subspecialty training, which makes them uniquely capable of diagnosing and treating medical problems of greater complexity in both the office and hospital settings. The subspecialties of internal medicine include gastroenterology, cardiology, medical oncology, geriatrics, and allergy/immunology.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the gamut of health problems affecting children of all ages— from birth up to the age of 18, or in some cases, 21. Pediatricians provide health screenings and assessments, vaccinations, growth tracking, patient education (i.e., they educate parents about child nutrition, safety, etc.).
OB/GYNs
OB/GYN, also known as women’s health experts, specialize in women’s sexual and reproductive health. OB/GYNs provide care during puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum period, menopause, and beyond.
The training of OB/GYNs enables them to not only provide labor and delivery services but also well-woman exams—which could include breast and pelvic exams, Pap tests, and STI screening—and nonsurgical and surgical gynecological interventions, such as endometrial ablation, hysterectomies, dilation and curettage, among others.
Primary Care Providers in The Bronx, NY
At Starling Diagnostics, our commitment goes beyond providing cutting-edge medical imaging services. We have a board-certified internal medicine physician on staff who offers a comprehensive range of primary and women’s healthcare services—all geared toward ensuring and promoting the health and well-being of the men and women in The Bronx.
To find out more about our primary care services or to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call us today at (718) 319-1610, or use our convenient, secure request form.
