primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (such as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist

—often used before another noun

a primary care physician

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care

Examples of primary care in a Sentence

He provides primary care to inner-city patients.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s when the Tracys brought Alyssa to her primary care physician, who screened and diagnosed her with autism. —Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024

The clinic has roughly 30 full- and part-time staff, a primary care physician, triage nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians. —Ashley Carnahan, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

While Biden had no challenges accessing a primary care physician for his annual physical, many Americans have trouble doing this. —Katherine O'Malley, STAT, 27 Mar. 2024

In 2023, Indiana had one primary care physician per 1,500 people, one dentist per 1,700 people and one mental health provider per 530 people. —Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024

His father’s primary care doctor had retired about six months after giving them the news of Olivas Jr.’s mild cognitive impairment, and the health system had assigned him a new doctor. —Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024

Once built, it is planned to offer medical services including primary care, surgeries and medical specialties such as orthopedics, oncology and cardiology. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024

Angela Suarez, primary care medical director for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, notes that the county system serves a disproportionate number of low-income, Medi-Cal, and Medicare patients, who often had to drive south to Gilroy or north to San Jose to receive care. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024

Ask your primary care physician which screenings you should be getting based on your age and your personal and family history. —Virgil Miller, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner or a pediatrician) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist for further treatment

—often used attributively

primary care physicians

primary care practice

primary care medicine

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care