Primary Care

Choosing and regularly seeing a primary care provider is one of the best things you can do for your health. Partner with a friendly, knowledgeable health professional from VHC Health Physicians for primary care that helps you live well.

What Is a Primary Care Provider?

A primary care provider (PCP) is a healthcare professional who helps you manage all aspects of your health. They are usually the first person you talk to if you have a health concern that is not an emergency. PCPs are usually doctors, but a physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP) might also provide primary care. In partnership with you, your primary care provider:

• Gets to know you, your health goals and your risk factors based on your personal and family history
• Performs routine physical exams for preventive care, including exams required for sports, school and employment
• Administers immunizations, including flu shots and other vaccines
• Recommends age-appropriate screenings for cancer, bone density and heart health, and helps you manage results and necessary interventions
• Treats acute (short-term) illnesses and injuries
• Manages chronic (long-term) conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, obesity and heart disease
• Safely maintains and provides you access to your medical records
• Refers you to medical specialists, such as cardiologists, mental health professionals, rehabilitation therapists and surgeons—as necessary

Specialty Care Coordination

VHC Health Care Coordinators provide support to improve outcomes for our patients through outreach contacts following hospital and Emergency Department care. They contact patients to initiate scheduling of post hospitalization follow-up via video or phone encounters ensuring a continuity of care and coordinate wellness reminders.

Types of Primary Care Providers

At VHC Health, you can select the type of health professional that is right for you or your loved one.

• Family practitioner – Cares for patients of every age, from infants to seniors
• Internist or internal medicine physician – Specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating health conditions in adults
• Pediatrician – Skilled in caring for the unique needs of babies, children and teens
• Geriatrician or gerontologist – Specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating health concerns in senior adults

Your Annual Physical

Your annual physical – also called annual checkup, wellness exam or preventive care visit – is an important part of taking care of your overall health and wellness. Most PCPs recommend at least one visit annually for adults.

Get the most out of your time with your doctor by thinking about your health concerns and goals before your next appointment. Consider asking your doctor:

• What can I do to improve my health?
• Which screening tests or exams do I need?
• Do I need shots to prevent flu, pneumonia, shingles or other diseases?
• Are my prescriptions still OK?
• What does my family history tell you about my risk for health problems?

VHC Health Physicians - Primary Care

Same-Day Appointment

If you have a minor illness or injury and you’re an established patient with VHC Health Physicians, you can take advantage of convenient same-day appointments.

If you are not an established patient, you can walk in to our Urgent Care location, which is open seven days a week. Providers at the Urgent Care location will communicate the results of your visit with your PCP.

Extended Hours

For your convenience, VHC Health Physicians Primary Care practices offer care when it works best for you—early mornings, evenings and Saturdays.

In-House Lab Services

Lab testing can help reveal important information about your health. If your PCP recommends a test, expect accurate, timely results.

Immunizations

VHC Health Physicians also offer general primary care immunizations at all our primary care offices, including flu, pneumococcal, shingles, hepatitis A and B, etc.