Genesis Medical Associates: Northern Area Family Medicine

A primary care doctor is a general wellness physician that can manage most of a patient's care in a non-emergency situation. Primary care physicians are the #1 resource for generalized aches, pains, and colds. More importantly, a primary care doctor can help patients assess their wellness and lifestyle goals over time and provide preventative care and advice. In general, primary care doctors are also referred to as "Primary care providers" - PCPs for short. However, it is important to note that primary care also operates under four main types of care: Family medicine, where the doctor cares for an entire family (i.e. will see patients of any age or gender, including newborns). Internal medicine, where the doctor provides primary care to adults. Pediatrics, where the doctor provides primary care to infants, children, and adolescents specifically. Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), where the doctor cares for women’s reproductive health and offers family planning services. Genesis Medical Associates proudly offers internal medicine, family medicine, and gynecologic care - meaning that our offices can cover the basic care needs of your entire family, at every stage of We are especially proud of our ability to maintain continuity of care into adulthood. If that is not the definition of a family doctor, we don’t know what is!

A PCP has an advantage over other doctors: they can get to know their patients over time, i.e. during annual visits. This allows a PCP to build a connection with an individual; to maintain a comprehensive file on that person’s year-to-year health information; and to provide tailored health feedback during an appointment based on a patient's history. And while specialists can assess and treat immediate symptoms as needed, PCPs specialize in offering long-term preventative care that helps minimize the need for a specialist at all. Of course, we all need specialist care eventually for one reason or another. And when that happens, primary care doctors can offer you a referral to a trusted physician in their network. Your primary doctor will then communicate with that specialist and make sure any additional care you need is properly coordinated and administered.