Essentia Health Encourages You To Prioritize A Relationship With A Primary Care Provider In The New Year
The start of a new year is a great time to reconnect with your wellness goals and who better to help keep you on track than a primary care provider (PCP)?
“A primary care provider is someone who sees you as a whole and can assess your overall medical needs,” explained Dr. Sreejith Gopi, an Essentia Health family medicine physician who sees patients in both Ada and Fargo. “A PCP’s goal is to keep you healthy, prevent you from getting sick and keep you on the right path. We’re also here to take care of you when you are sick, of course.”
It’s important to be proactive. Preventive care helps detect or avert serious diseases and medical problems before they worsen. At Essentia Health, we provide care for every age and every need, and a PCP is a key component of preventive care.
“When you have a PCP, you are more likely to talk to them about your problems or to reach out via MyChart, phone or video visit. In turn, your PCP will have a better understanding of your health and family history,” Dr. Gopi said. “They will have familiarity with you and your problems and can detect changes in your health.”
A PCP can help you manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, body weight and hormonal deficiencies. Similarly, they play a pivotal role in managing their patients’ mental health needs. Through annual and periodic check-ups, patients can stay up to date on required vaccinations and important age-appropriate cancer screenings. Your PCP can coordinate this care and refer you to specialists if needed.
“The primary care provider is the best advocate for you and for your long-term health and longevity,” said Dr. Gopi. “The new year is a great time to get to know your primary care provider, or to get one if you do not have one, and to see what suggestions they have for you.”
Essentia Health offers numerous providers throughout its service area; several are actively welcoming new patients. To find a caring and compassionate PCP to help you on your health care journey, visit EssentiaHealth.org.
Essentia patients may be able to see their PCP virtually or in-person, depending on their needs. To schedule an in-person visit, call (844) 663-1068. To schedule a virtual appointment, call (844) 663-1068 or login to the MyChart app or webpage.