When people think of a doctor’s office visit, they usually envision Primary Care Services.
Primary care provides quality health care treatments for non-emergency illnesses and injuries, and preventive care services such as regular checkups, screenings, and vaccinations. When potential health issues are detected early in primary care, it creates better treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of more serious health problems in the future.
Primary care usually leads to better management of chronic conditions, lower healthcare expenditures, and an overall higher quality of life.
Primary care is your central point of access to the healthcare system. They provide referrals to specialists, order diagnostic tests, and often coordinate your care across different departments.
Patients with a regular Primary Care provider report higher satisfaction with their healthcare. Because a good primary care provider gives personalized attention, continuity of care, and a sense of trust.
As a primary care provider, we want to help you and your family through all your health needs. This includes preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, and specialist referrals.
Take a look below to see more details about the primary care services we offer at Cama’i CHC.
Looking for Primary Care in Bristol Bay? Contact Cama’i Community Health Center.
Primary Care Services Available in Bristol Bay
Well-Child Visits
Children, from infants to adolescents, should routinely meet with their primary provider for well-child visits. It’s the best way to keep your child healthy and address potential health issues early.
Your doctor will update your child’s medical history to include recent illnesses, injuries, or changes in behavior. They’ll perform a routine physical exam will be conducted to assess your child’s overall health, growth, and development. They may conduct an age-appropriate developmental screening as well. This will gauge your child’s progress in communication skills, social skills, and problem-solving ability.
Your primary care provider will review immunization records and administer any necessary vaccinations to keep them up-to-date.
They’ll also discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s health, development, or behavior. And if needed your doctor can provide advice, resources, or referrals to specialists.
Immunizations & Vaccines
Primary care providers monitor vaccines for you and your family to ensure they’re up-to-date. This could include vaccines for tetanus, measles, mumps, polio, chicken pox, whooping cough, COVID-19, annual flu shots, and other vaccinations recommended based on health status or travel plans.
Primary care providers will know your medical history, including allergies and potential risk factors. That includes being aware of possible interactions between any medications you’re taking and certain vaccines. They’ll tailor the vaccination schedule to fit your needs and ensure your safety.
Your primary care provider will be happy to address any concerns you may have about vaccines, and provide well-researched, evidence-supported answers to your questions.
Exams, Screenings, & Physicals
Exams, including annual comprehensive physicals, and screenings for specific issues are the biggest part of primary care. They allow your provider to establish a baseline of your physical health for future comparisons, and spot any areas of concern before they become serious and require more intensive treatment.
A yearly physical exam is the most comprehensive of the examination procedures. Your provider will review your medical history, discuss any current health concerns you may have, and review your medications.
They’ll take routine measures of vital signs like temperature, blood pressure, heart, and respiratory rates.
They’ll examine you for any physical abnormalities. This usually includes an examination of your ears, eyes, throat, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdomen, reflexes, and musculoskeletal system.
Based on age, general health, and other health risks, your provider may recommend various screenings. Screenings are focused checks for specific health conditions. They’re used to check for potential issues before any symptoms occur, and provide an early intervention.
Common screenings include:
- blood pressure screenings for heart disease risk.
- cholesterol screenings for heart disease and stroke risk
- mammograms for breast cancer screening.
- pap smears for cervical cancer screening.
- colorectal cancer screenings
The frequency of those screenings will be determined by your primary care provider.
Illness & Infection Care
Routine preventative care can’t prevent everything. Colds, cases of flu, and infections still happen.
And your primary care provider is there for you when they do. They provide accessible, personalized care for a wide range of non-emergency illnesses and infections.
In general, anytime you have a health concern that isn’t an emergency, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
With more common illnesses, like common colds, you may not need primary care. If you have symptoms that worsen over time, become particularly bothersome, or you’re unsure of the cause, make an appointment to see your primary care provider.
Less common symptoms may indicate an infection, you should see your primary car provider as soon as possible. Earaches may be an indicator of an ear infection. Facial pain in the sinuses may indicate a sinus infection.
Worsening rashes, boils, and other skin reactions should also be examined and treated by your primary care provider.
Diagnostic Work
Primary care providers have many diagnostic tests available to them.
Some are simple diagnostics that provide rapid results. Those include strep tests, flu tests, urinalysis, and blood glucose readings.
There are imaging diagnostics, involving specialized equipment, that provide insights into your internal health. X-ray imaging can identify fractures, joint issues, and chest infections like pneumonia. Ultrasound imaging is used to examine soft tissues like muscles, organs, and fetal development for prenatal care.
More specific diagnostics may also be used. Electrocardiograms (EKG) are used to measure electrical activity in the heart and identify issues with heart rhythms. Electroencephalograms (EEG) measure the electrical activity in the brain to identify potential abnormalities.
Blood tests are a common, and extremely helpful diagnostic tool. These are usually completed by laboratory services. Your primary care provider may order a number of different blood tests to determine things like red and white cell count, cholesterol levels, liver, kidney, and thyroid functions.
Not all primary care providers have specialized diagnostic equipment in their offices. They can refer you to facilities that do have specialized diagnostic equipment if needed.
Ongoing Medical Treatment
Primary care providers are your central point of contact for ongoing medical treatments.
They’ll monitor long-term conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and thyroid disorders. They’ll track your symptoms and medication, address any complications that arise, and make adjustments as needed. They can also refer you to specialists if more specialized care is required.
Primary care providers also track recovery from injuries, wounds, infections, and surgical procedures. They’ll make sure your recovery proceeds as expected, address any abnormalities and refer you to a specialist if specialized care is needed.
Cama’i CHC is Your Primary Care Provider in the Bristol Bay Area
As your primary care provider, we put your and your family’s care first. We also provide emergency services, behavioral health services, and dietician services.
We’re an award-winning, federally qualified health center that meets the unique needs of the Bristol Bay community. Our well-trained, professional staff provides reliable, confidential healthcare services.
We support our Alaska community and are deeply invested in promoting the health and wellness of all residents.
Primary Care, Emergency Medical Services, and Mental health Care services are available for the Bristol Bay Community. Contact Cama’i Community Health Center today and find out more.
