Prioritize Your Primary Care
When it comes to health, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. An attentive primary care provider will help with everyday needs and long-term wellness.
What is Primary Care?
Primary care clinics provide check-ups, screenings, treatment for common illnesses, chronic condition management and referrals to specialists. Baptist Health Care offers convenient locations across Northwest Florida, including Milton, Pace, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, East Hill, downtown Pensacola and other clinics throughout the region.
A primary care provider (PCP) can be a family practice doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or internist. If something concerning arises, your PCP connects you with the right specialist.
Why is Primary Care Important?
Think of a PCP as a health coach standing at “home plate” in baseball terminology. Care should start and end with primary care for the best results. The goal is to build a long-term relationship with a PCP, someone who will know their patients and be an advocate for them to track overall well-being at every stage of life.
Sherri Ellis, MSN, APRN, ANP-C, FNP-C, a nurse practitioner at Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Perdido, has been working in primary care and family medicine since 2012. “As a primary care provider, I can impact the health of patients on a very personal level,” Ellis said. “Overall, routine care helps to develop a strong patient-provider relationship, which increases trust and allows for the development of health goals with the patient’s input.”
What to Expect at Appointments
For new primary care clinic patient appointments, patients can expect to answer questions. The PCP wants to know about patients’ health history and any concerns they may have. A PCP’s role is to listen and make patients feel heard.
At follow-up visits, the PCP may review labs, tests, imaging and medication needs. Together, the PCP and patients plan for health needs, goals and concerns.
During annual visits and wellness exams, PCPs routinely review and provide support for a patient’s preventive care records. This could include immunizations and health screenings, such as mammograms, bone density tests, PSA screenings and colon cancer screenings. These visits provide an opportunity for a PCP to gather details on an individual’s medication, lifestyle habits (nutrition and exercise) and health care goals.
Benefits of Routine Care with a PCP
Regular check-ups help detect problems early, often before symptoms appear. They also allow for managing chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Ongoing care helps monitor health, adjust medications, prevent complications, and keep patients up to date on screenings and immunizations.
How PCPs Coordinate Care
Your PCP is the gateway to medical care—ordering labs, prescribing medications and making referrals when needed. Baptist PCPs work closely with specialists to ensure seamless care.
Why PCPs Love Their Work
PCPs often find their work challenging and rewarding. “As a nurse practitioner and PCP, I rely so much on my foundation of nursing knowledge and skills,” Ellis said. “My work is challenging but extremely fulfilling. I have developed long-term relationships with patients who rely on me and trust me to help them maintain their health. What could be more rewarding? I am so grateful for the opportunity to do this job every day.”
Primary Care Doctors Near Me
Visit Baptist Medical Group Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a PCP at a convenient location. Baptist primary care doctors are available in Pensacola, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Navarre and Perdido.
