Identification
Physicians who are recognized as primary care physicians include those who practice general internal medicine, general pediatrics, family practice and preventive medicine. Physicians who practice obstetrics and gynecology are also often classified as primary care practitioners.
Function
Primary care physicians are trained to diagnose early symptoms of diseases, counsel patients on screening and early prevention, and identify conditions that require medical intervention. In general, a primary care physician does not practice a specialty such as oncology, neurology or surgery.
History
Primary care started to gain prominence in the United States in the 1970s-1980s following the emergence of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In general, patients enrolled in HMOs need permission from their primary care physicians to gain access to specialty services. However, recent restructuring of HMOs is expected to reduce the growth of primary care systems in the United States.
Size
In the United States, some estimates say there is about 1 primary care physician per 1,000 people. They are always in demand.
Expert Insight
One of the main reason for the decline in the number of primary care physicians is due to the widening gap between the salaries of specialists and the salaries of primary physicians. A surgeon can make double what a primary care physician makes.
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