We all know how important it is to maintain our health, from practicing a healthy diet down to regular checkups. Seeing a General Practitioner is also a must, having the routine checkup even when you aren’t sick. However, there are quite a lot of people who don’t have a regular GP, opting to wait until they show symptoms to see a doctor!
So, why should you have a regular GP beyond your usual doctors (as needed)? Read on as I show you the reasons why you need a regular GP and the benefits it offers.
Why You Need a Regular GP
Your local GP provides a variety of family health services, from vaccinations down to routine examinations. But why exactly do we need a REGULAR GP and not just choose a different one? Here are the seven main reasons why:
- They Know You and Your Health History
When you see a regular GP, they get to know you AND your medical history. They’ll know the way your mind and body works, not having to waste time redoing tests you’ve done with different doctors to see any underlying issues from past problems.
Also, since they know you better, you have a better sense of trust with a doctor you see regularly. You feel more comfortable talking with a doctor you’ve been seeing longer and developed a professional relationship with. This betters the care given to you and the satisfaction of services.
- They Are Experts In General Health Care
Regular GPs are well-knowledgeable with various mental and physical symptoms which can arise throughout lives. They have the expertise in many sicknesses and conditions, ensuring you only receive the best to feel better as soon as possible.
If ever you develop coughs, feel anxious, or want to know about a vaccine, your regular GP can answer all your queries and worries! They’re trained in a little bit of everything, coordinating patient health care in one location.
- They Provide Coordinated Care and Refer Other Specialists
Your GP will be the main person coordinating your health care if ever your illnesses or conditions require other health professionals. They will assist in finding the right cardiologist for you or podiatrist or any other type of specialist you may need. They can refer you to medical specialists like ENTs or cardiologists, or other medical professionals like podiatrists and psychologists. GPs have good connections with reputable specialists, and they can recommend you the one they are familiar with, still giving you the right guidance and care.
- They Manage Chronic Conditions
If you have a chronic health condition that requires maintenance and routine checkups, your regular GP can take care of you. They can provide you a Health Care Management Plan for a variety of conditions, catering to your individual needs.
If you have diabetes, arthritis, or lupus, they can monitor it for you and guide you in organizing or learning about your conditions. They also maintain it to ensure that things aren’t getting worse.
- Higher Level of Comfort and Communication
Just as mentioned above, no one wants to talk to a stranger about any of their sensitive health conditions and concerns. That’s where a regular GP can help you out, ensuring that you only feel trust and comfort when opening up about what you’re feeling, whether it’s physical or mental.
By scheduling regular appointments with your GP, you experience better levels of satisfaction and catch sicknesses before they worsen.
- Lower Health Costs and Decrease Hospital or ER Visits
One benefit of seeing your regular GP routinely is that they can catch conditions before it happens or worsens. Sure, routine checkups seem like a lot of money down the drain, but at the end of the day, you actually cut overall health costs.
Since you’re going for regular screening, have open communication, and continue to stay updated with vaccines, the less likely you’ll get sick or have a condition worsen, which costs a lot, from the hospital or even ER trips.
- They Offer Routine Screenings and Catch issues Earlier
Some people don’t find use in routine screenings like checking blood pressure and heart rate. However, these can have your GP find any symptoms or underlying conditions you may not know about! They can detect issues during the early stages or prevent them from happening at all, which doesn’t only cut costs, but reduce the severity and discomfort of such symptoms.
Wrapping It Up
Getting a GP is just as important for your health as getting specialized doctors are. With their many services and benefits, you can take preventative measures against sicknesses and serious illnesses which would have worsened without a regular GP! The next step is to ensure that they know your history and have the skill to treat you well.
Hopefully, this article on why you need a regular GP encouraged you to find one for you and the family. So don’t wait any longer and find a good GP for a great service while you are sick or to prevent it from happening now.
If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with a GP, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
