Frequently asked questions
What is Primary Care
Primary care is that care provided by medical providers specifically trained for and skilled in comprehensive first contact and continuing care for persons with any undiagnosed sign, symptom, or health concern (the "undifferentiated" patient) not limited by problem origin (biological, behavioral, or social), organ system, or diagnosis.
Primary care includes health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of health care settings (e.g., office, inpatient, critical care, long-term care, home care, day care, etc.). Primary care is performed and managed by a personal physician often collaborating with other health professionals, and utilizing consultation or referral as appropriate.Primary care provides patient advocacy in the health care system to accomplish cost-effective care by coordination of health care services. Primary care promotes effective communication with patients and encourages the role of the patient as a partner in health care.
What is integrated collaborative care in primary care?
Full Collaboration in a Transformed/Merged Practice. The highest level of integration involves the most significant practice changes. Fuller collaboration between Behavioral health professionals and primary care health professionals has allowed system cultures (whether from two separate systems or from one evolving system) to blur into a single transformed or merged practice. Health professionals and patients view the operation as a single health system treating the whole person. The principle of treating the whole person is applied to all patients, not to targeted groups only.
-01.png)
