A Partner in Your Health
Choosing a primary care provider is an important decision. A primary care provider is a partner in your health who understands your health history and your long-term health care needs. A primary care provider understands you and is ready to treat a symptom or help you with a chronic medical condition. If you need specialized care, your primary care provider can help you team up with other Coffee Regional Medical Center physicians to get you the care you need. We like to say that your primary care provider is your partner in your journey to a healthier life.
What is Primary Care?
Primary care providers are often called PCPs. They are physicians, physician assistants (PAs) or nurse practitioners (NPs) who specialize in either in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. There are other primary care specialties for specific groups of patients include Pediatrics (for children) and OB/GYN (for women).
Coffee Regional Medical Center offers primary care services in several convenient locations around Coffee County. If you do not have a primary care provider please search our online directory.
What’s right for you: Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
Our Family Medicine doctors offer family-oriented care for every age and stage of life, from birth through childhood, adulthood and old age. We care for expectant mothers, deliver babies, and address the medical needs of children, adolescents, adults and seniors. A Family Medicine doctor may be right for you if you are looking for a doctor for yourself and your children. Think of us as your one-stop provider for healthcare.
Internal Medicine doctors focus on the care of adults and elderly patients. Our Internal Medicine doctors are trained to care for the health and disease affecting adults, with emphasis on the management of chronic, complex or severe illnesses in patients ages 16 and older.
A Doctor or a Nurse Practitioner?
Physician assistants (PAs) are medical providers licensed to prescribe medications, diagnose and treat illness and disease. Working as part of your integrated medical team, PAs are critical to increasing access to care by expanding the capacity of physician practices across the country.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with advanced academic and clinical education in care of the sick and in diagnosis, treatment and management of common and chronic illnesses. They work alongside doctor’s and can diagnose and treat medical conditions, administer vaccinations and prescribe medications.
Primary Care Services
Primary care providers treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, conduct health screenings and comprehensive physical exams. Comprehensive primary care services, including:
- Annual health and wellness evaluations
- Long-term management of chronic diseases (asthma, hypertension, diabetes, depression or heart disease)
- Routine immunizations (flu, tetanus, pneumonia and others)
- Treatment of minor injuries
- Referral to specialists as needed
- On-site laboratory services
Patient Checklist: Before Your Appointment
To maximize your time, and that of your primary care provider at your upcoming appointment, take a few minutes to prepare a list of questions and to gather and bring needed information, including:
- Insurance (Private/Commercial, Medicare or Medicaid card)
- Valid picture ID (driver’s license, passport, consulate ID)
- Co-payment (consult your insurance provider)
- List of current medications
- Changes to your address or contact information
- Changes in your medical history