Having a primary care provider (PCP) means having a main point of contact for all things health-related that aren’t medical emergencies. Your PCP can save you time and ensure that you receive consistent care.
If you don’t have a PCP but visit an internist, we have good news: Your internist can function as your PCP. Primary care providers typically belong to one of three specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, or pediatrics. These specialties are similar because they share a broad knowledge of basic health, preventive care, and common illnesses.
Internal medicine provider and cardiologist Jeffrey H. Graf, MD, provides medical care for men and women at his private practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He can help you stay healthy by refining your lifestyle and keeping track of your health over time. As a concierge medicine provider, he also offers enhanced services for more personalized care.
Internal medicine doctors can provide primary care, but what are the key differences between internal medicine and primary care? Here’s how each specialty is defined.
Internal medicine involves basic medical care for anyone 18 years old or older. Internists — providers who specialize in internal medicine — know a lot about chronic diseases and how to manage them. They also know a lot about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
Primary care can meet all of your basic health needs. Similar to internal medicine, primary care often focuses on long-term disease management and prevention. However, it also covers common short-term (acute) illnesses like infections. An internist can be a primary care provider, but not all primary care providers are internists.
As an experienced internist, Dr. Graf provides many primary care services. As your PCP, he develops a relationship with you and gets to know your health history well. He also learns about your health preferences, belief system, and needs.
You can trust Dr. Graf to provide basic primary care services, such as:
Annual physical exams are routine visits with your primary care provider to check in and review your health. A cornerstone of primary care, your physical exam looks at your health from numerous angles. It’s also an opportunity to update vaccines and other preventive health services.
Doctors order tests for specific illnesses based on risk factors like your age, gender, family history, and habits. Dr. Graf can help you figure out which screenings you need and when to get them.
Dr. Graf can prescribe and adjust various medications for chronic diseases that you need to take long term. If you struggle with side effects or medication ineffectiveness, he can reduce or increase the dose or recommend alternative options.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Graf can cover your heart health needs. But if you need to see other specialists, he can collaborate with trusted experts in the area.
As your internist and PCP, Dr. Graf can help you examine your lifestyle and make easy changes for better long-term health. With his expertise, you can improve your:
Examining and adjusting these behaviors with help from a primary care provider can reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases.
If you need a new primary care home base, consider Jeffrey H. Graf, MD. Call the office today or book an appointment online.
