To find the right provider for
your healthcare needs, go to
.
Helping Make Life Better
A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL L I V I NG
FAL L
2014
Send joint pain
packing
Meet our new
providers
How cardiologists
see hearts
LIKE
most folks, you’ve prob-
ably gone to doctors’ appointments
since—well, since before you were
born! And whether you’ve needed an
annual checkup, a prescription re ll
or a diagnosis for a mystery rash,
chances are you’ve received primary
care from individuals with
MD
a er
their names.
Yet MDs aren’t the only primary
care providers. ey’re in excellent
company with a number of other
professionals, all dedicated to pro-
viding top-quality healthcare.
Physician assistant (PA)
ese medical generalists work un-
der the supervision of doctors to o er
primary care for all
ages. ey’re trained
via accredited
programs and, like
all the profession-
als described here,
must pass rigorous licensing exams.
Nurse practitioner (NP)
Every NP has earned a registered
nursing degree followed by a
postgraduate degree. Advanced
clinical training enables them to
provide primary, acute and long-
term healthcare.
Doctor of osteopathy (DO)
Like MDs, DOs are fully quali ed
physicians with four years of medical
training plus postgraduate intern-
ships and residencies. Almost two-
thirds of them specialize in primary
care.
Doctor of medicine (MD)
Like DOs, many MDs provide
primary care either as their main
practice or as part of their specialty.
For example:
w
Family physicians care for all fam-
ily members, regardless of age or
medical condition.
w
Pediatricians treat patients from
birth through age 21.
w
OB-GYNs frequently o er primary
care along with obstetric and gyne-
cologic care.
w
Internists handle
all the medical needs
of adults throughout
their patients’
lifetimes.
Since having a
good relationship with a primary care
provider is good for your health, look
for someone you’ll feel comfortable
with, now and for years to come.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Your choices
for primary care
Find the provider who meets your needs
