Choosing a Primary Care Provider
8/5/2026
By Grace Keathley, PA-C
When it comes to maintaining good health, it takes a multidisciplinary team of providers to provide health care. It’s not unusual for your preventive care regime to include regular visits to more than one doctor or specialist involved in treating chronic conditions: a family physician, an obstetrician or gynecologist, an allergist, dermatologist, orthopedist or cardiologist, for example.
However, it’s important to have one team leader quarterbacking your health care, so to speak. This person is your primary care physician and he or she serves as the main gatekeeper for your care. Choosing a primary care provider may be the most important step in caring for your health.
What is a primary care provider?
Your primary care provider (PCP) is the medical practitioner you typically see for an annual physical, or in other words your main health care provider for non-emergency care. Your PCP performs routine tests that are needed at various stages throughout your life to monitor your health and diagnose and treat medical problems. If needed, your PCP can refer you to a specialist if a serious illness requiring special management is necessary. A PCP serves as the chief facilitator for other physicians involved in your care, making sure that all the components – from treatments to prescribed medications – work together effectively, for your good health. A PCP will provide preventive care, based on their knowledge of your unique health history, heredity and other factors. He or she will also provide you with health education so that you can make informed decisions about your lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity.
A (PCP) is your main healthcare provider for routine checkups, preventive care and common medical concerns. PCPs can include family medicine doctors, internal medicine doctors, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Family doctors care for patients of all ages, while internists focus on adults. NPs and PAs are licensed providers who diagnose, treat and help manage your overall health.
The advantage of having a PCP over using a walk-in clinic or urgent care center for routine health maintenance is continuity: an ongoing relationship with a single medical professional will have in-depth knowledge about you and your health history, family background, past injuries or illnesses, allergies and risk factors for certain diseases.
Choosing the right provider for you
You and your PCP will be together for a long time, so making the right choice is important. You may ask family and friends for recommendations, check with other health providers you may know, or consult with your local hospital for a referral.
As you begin your search for a primary care provider, consider the following tips from the National Institutes of Health:
- Does the provider participate in your insurance plan (also known as an “in-network provider”?) If not, the amount of your co-payment for seeing the physician/NP/PA may be higher.
- Is the provider accepting new patients?
- Is the practice located in an area that is close to your home or work location? Are the office hours convenient for your schedule?
- What is most important to you in a good PCP? General health and wellness? Experience in the treatment of certain chronic diseases?
- What about your personal preferences? Do you feel more comfortable with a male or a female provider? A young doctor or an older physician? A warm, casual and friendly communication style or one that is more formal?
- Does the provider use a conservative or aggressive approach to medical treatment? Does he or she ask about the patient’s preferences regarding specific types of medical treatments?
- Is the provider easy to reach by phone? Does he or she use (and encourage patient contact) via email? Are office staff members friendly and helpful?
For help in choosing a provider in the southeast Missouri area, visit PBRMC.com/primary-care-service and click on the “online scheduling” to make an appointment.
Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.
About the Author: Grace Keathley, PA-C
Born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Grace Keathley, PA-C, is looking forward to providing care to the community that helped shape who she is today.
Keathley graduated from Harding University in Searcy, AR, with a Master of Science in physician assistant studies. She completed supervised clinical rotations in primary care, general surgery, psychiatric/behavioral health, dermatology, internal medicine and emergency medicine.
Keathley joined the practice at the Malden Medical Center and is accepting new patients. Her care includes sick visits, annual preventive wellness visits, minor procedures, immunizations, physicals, pre-employment testing, school screenings, coordination of care, managing chronic conditions, referrals to specialists and EKGs.
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