Those who are ill should see a specialist before visiting their primary care physician.

This is false.

When you are unwell the first person you should see is your general/primary care physician. Once you have a diagnosis of something that cannot be treated through primary care then you can see a specialist. You need to see your doctor first before any other health professionals are seen or needed.

A person who provides initial care for various medical conditions and also is first to be contacted during a health concern which is undiagnosed is known as a primary care physician (PCP). A specialist is generally seen when a medical condition is well diagnosed. Therefore, the statement is false.

Further Explanation:

When a person becomes ill, he or she first visits a PCP who usually helps find the cause of a particular condition and guides for actions to be taken. The primary job of a PCP is to provide preventive care to the patient. There are different categories of PCP’s for the treatment of people of different age groups. For example, family practitioners are the ones who take of everyone from infants to the elderly in a particular family, and pediatricians provide treatment to kids, and babies. A PCP is generally the first option during a medical condition when it’s not an emergency usually in times of fever, abdominal pain, cough, rash, and headache.

When a doctor has completed his or her training and education in a specific area of medicine, he/she is said to be a specialist physician. Specialist physician diagnoses and treats illness or health issues specific to a particular organ of the body or according to their area of specialization. For example, a cardiologist treats heart problems, an oncologist provides treatment for cancer, and psychiatrist provides help to patients dealing with behavioral and emotional problems.

Therefore, initially when the disease has not been diagnosed a primary care physician is contacted. In case of minor problems like headaches and fever, a PCP can prescribe generic medicines. While in cases where the patient is diagnosed with a heart problem or cancer, a PCP recommends a specialist to the patient who can provide a specific treatment.

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Answer Details:

Grade: College Biology

Subject: Health

Chapter: Health care system

Keywords:

Primary care physician, specialist physician, health concern, preventive care, medical condition, cardiologist, oncologist, psychiatrist, cancer.