@izmai I've worked in health care for some time. I'm a psychologist, but not YOUR psychologist, and I've worked for several years in helping people coordinate care in order to address high risk for suicide, recover, and build a life worth living. Here is my 2 cents from my experiencing in both rural and very large health care systems in the US. YMMV.
Primary care is amazing. IF, and this is critical, you have a good doctor and a well managed health care system. If you are fairly healthy and have a minute to be choosy, this is a great time to explore. I moved a year ago and worked quite hard to get a good primary care doctor in a well-managed health care system. I asked around, I read reviews, and I looked for systems that had a great electronic health care record, well integrated with speciality care, good billing, good front desks that answered the phone and made it as frictionless as possible. I picked a younger doctor with a good reputation that practiced in an office with one of the most respected later career primary care doctors in town. I also waited for an appointment because that office (being well run) does not cram doctor's panels full of patients, and leaves time in the schedule for care.
I am just entering the age where I need to start more screenings to detect cancer and heart disease risk early, as well as coordinate gyn care as I age. My primary care doctor is a good communicator and ordered what I know to be the correct kinds of labs and referred me to other offices. ONE office was NOT well run, and not well integrated with my electronic record and I IM'd him back and told him so. He may like the gyn in that office but if you don't have a speciality diagnostic need, you don't need Dr. House. You need a basically good doctor, who is on top of things, in a practice where the staff turnover isn't high, they answer the phone, they get the billing right, etc. He understood and sent me to a great office that was well run with a PA (I find there is more variability in physician's assistants, but the one I got was the best gyn I've seen in 15 years).
All of my info is rolled into my easy to use electronic record. I am middle-aged and have some emerging health issues I can get on top of and check annually, which my primary care doctor will do. And as we have a relationship, it is easier to be understood and seen for common things, as well as prevent urgent care and ED needs.
When I was younger and had the good health of the young, a good primary care doctor would not be as valuable as it is to me now. But at this stage, this can help me PREVENT or very effectively manage the kinds of health needs I'll have as I age. Longer life with better health are great goals.
Primary care doctors were also CRITICAL in helping me make a difference for my patients with high risk of suicide. Because almost always they had several health issues going on that, when much better managed, dramatically improved their mental health. Good sleep, well-managed diabetes, controlled migraines and blood pressure, etc work wonders for making it easier to regulate mood, and cope with stress in life.
A primary care doctor who knows you, listens, keeps on top of your routine care, responds to routine sickness effectively, and helps keep your medical record organized...and who has a practice that answers the phone well, makes it easy to schedule, send Rx, coordinate appts, and bills correctly is amazing. Good luck!
