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November 21, 2014

Its Important to Have a Primary Care Provider

Zachary Baeseman, MD, MPH, is a family practice physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca, and he feels strongly about the benefits of getting to know his patients over the long term. As a primary care provider, or PCP, “I can live your history with you. I get to know about your family and your situation at home, even the typical triggers that can cause a serious illness for you or land you in the hospital.”

Zachary Baeseman, MD, MPH, is a family practice physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca, and he feels strongly about the benefits of getting to know his patients over the long term. As a primary care provider, or PCP, “I can live your history with you. I get to know about your family and your situation at home, even the typical triggers that can cause a serious illness for you or land you in the hospital.”

Dr. Baeseman believes every person should have a primary care physician. Consider it an investment in your health, even when you feel great.

  • You save time because you get well faster, and you certainly save money on medical bills. A PCP is the person to call when an illness first afflicts you. Having a PCP to see at a clinic prevents you from waiting too long to have an issue addressed and possibly even ending up in the ER.
  • It’s a relationship thing. A PCP gets to know you and can recognize incremental changes in your physical and mental health that may signal a need for treatment before a crisis arises. Annual physicals are a great way to benchmark your health over time and note changes.
  • Your PCP keeps your medical records in one place, neat and tidy in one digital file. Your PCP and his or her staff are valuable depositories of your health history over time. They also serve as your “medical home,” coordinating relationships with specialists and serving as a hub for your medical records.
  • You are a whole person, and your PCP sees all of you. A PCP considers the whole person, physical and emotional, whereas a self-referral to a specialist may default to a focus on a specific part or system of the body, and this could delay an important diagnosis.

People with PCPs are proven to live longer, healthier lives because of the care, concern and coordination efforts of their care providers. And who doesn’t deserve a little more care, concern and helpful coordination?

Find a doctor who’s just right for you. Dr. Baeseman is accepting new patients at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca at (715) 256-3000. Or call ThedaCare On Call at (920) 830-6877 or go to www.thedacare.org and click on “Find a Doctor.”