3 reasons young men need a primary care provider

Young adulthood comes with a terrific amount of tasks and responsibilities. Have you stepped out into the world to pursue higher education, vocational training or entrepreneurship, or have you decided to weather through a few reliable jobs to save money for a future investment? During this busy time, it can be difficult to put your health at the top of your long to-do list.

So, how do you keep or achieve your peak health?

Most young men only need to visit a medical clinic once or twice a year, but there are three important reasons why having a designated primary care provider should be on your task list:

1. GETS TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR HEALTH GOALS

By developing a relationship with a primary care provider, he or she will become familiar with:

• Your personal medical history
• Your personal health values and wellness goals
• You, as a person, to develop a long-term professional relationship that enables a comfortable trust when sharing information and receiving medical guidance
• Your overall health, not simply your reported current health compliant, which happens when you visit short-term care centers, such as the Emergency Department or Urgent Care

2. SAVES MONEY

The care you receive in the outpatient clinic generally is more affordable than that of urgent or emergency care. However, if you do require immediate care, your provider can coordinate with those areas about your health.

Most importantly, primary care providers are masters of preventive medicine, education and screenings. A once-a-year visit for these things is perfectly normal. Think of it as your annual analysis and tune-up for physical and mental health. Your provider can ensure your health is up to date according to the latest guidelines on evidence-based medicine, and that you are well-informed about how to prevent any costly health risks based on your current health, as well as your family medical history.

3. MANAGES SPECIALTY CARE

Primary care providers are generalists by training, and evaluate and treat a myriad of day-to-day health problems and complaints.

At times, however, your health concerns may require needs beyond the primary care clinic. In these cases, your primary care provider:

• Can ensure a smooth referral of care to the appropriate specialist
• Will continue to actively monitor your updated medical history and status
• Will follow-up with test results, provide meaningful explanations behind those results and describe the best next-steps in your health care

Lastly, our job as a primary care provider is to educate and be a point of contact for community resources so you can maintain the healthiest version of you while actively pursuing your life goals.

Trevor Rich, M.D., is a Family Medicine resident physician in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.