SSM Health Medical Minute: Primary Care offers critical access point for non emergent conditions

ST. LOUIS – Primary care is a critical access point for preventive, ongoing care and new, unaddressed, non-emergent symptoms and conditions.

Mark Webber, the administrator of primary care and population health at SSM Health Medical Group, says the primary care team plays quarterback for a patient’s healthcare needs. Having a trusted and ongoing relationship with your PCP is important to meeting your overall healthcare needs, including helping you navigate the complexities of healthcare.

It ultimately means less cost to you as a patient as well as better health.

“Primary care is critical to a patient’s health, whether you’re healthy or not,” Webber said. “It’s your access point to the complexities of healthcare.”

Establishing a relationship with your primary care provider allows for proactive healthcare management and timely referrals to specialists when needed. Within the SSM Health primary care clinics, advanced practice providers, nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs) have advanced clinical education and are partners with the physicians in your care.

At times, a patient may see an advanced practice provider in lieu of the physician. They are well qualified and are working with your physician side-by-side. When scheduling an appointment, it may be difficult at times to get in to see your primary care physician. However, you can also schedule with their partner, either through MyChart or when scheduling over the phone.

SSM MyChart is an important way to access your healthcare record and see your test results quickly and at your convenience. It is also a great way to schedule your appointment with your primary care team. When scheduling an appointment with your physician, you can click on “Add Provider’s Team” to see your physician’s partner’s schedule as well. This may help you schedule an appointment that is timelier or better suits the patient’s needs. SSM MyChart is available online and through an app that you can download on your phone or mobile device.

“SSM Health is a nonprofit organization, so there is nobody that we don’t take care of. If you’re paying as a self-pay, there’s a discounted rate provided for those patients,” Webber said.

To learn more about urgent care and express clinics, click here.

The SSM Health Medical Minute airs Wednesdays on KPLR News 11 at 7 p.m. and FOX 2 News at 9 p.m.

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