Regular visits with a primary care provider can help you stay healthy, prevent illness, and manage any existing health conditions you or your family might have. During National Primary Care Week this first week of October, the Health Department is highlighting the importance of primary care and offering tools you can use to find a provider that’s right for you.
Think of a primary care clinic as your healthcare home. Here, you can meet with a doctor or nurse practitioner for routine physicals, vaccinations, or visits on days when you’re feeling sick. Your primary care provider can also meet with you regularly to manage and treat chronic conditions and connect you with any services they are unable to provide.
Primary care doctors and nurse practitioners collaborate with patients to promote wellness. Their care can help prevent illness and treat conditions before they worsen, which can help you avoid expensive visits to a hospital emergency department. When visiting a primary care clinic, your overall care plan can be coordinated through a team of diverse healthcare professionals including nurses, behavioral health professionals, nutritionists, and more.
Affordable healthcare
If you are looking for primary care services in Philadelphia that are low-cost or maybe even free, one great option is to visit a federally qualified health center (FQHC). FQHCs are health centers that are funded by the federal government to provide primary health care services and some specialty services that are affordable and accessible.
In Philadelphia, the Health Department operates eight health centers that offer a variety of primary care services and one health center that is fully dedicated to HIV and STD/STI testing and treatment. There are also more than 50 FQHCs or look-alikes throughout the city where you can receive services regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. For services that are charged by the health centers, a sliding-scale fee based on your income is used to determine costs.
We speak your language
Language should never be a barrier to receiving care. Patients at our health centers receive care in their preferred language. Providers have multiple options for interpretation services whether by phone or in-person. Many of the centers also have clinical staff who speak multiple languages and can provide care in a patients’ preferred languages.
To help you find a primary care provider and a health center that best meets your needs, the Health Department and the City’s Office of Innovation and Technology developed the Primary Care Finder, a web-based tool. You can use the Finder to filter your search and use a map to find a health center near you. The website can be translated into 9 different languages and is updated every three months.
Health centers are a great option if you’re looking for a healthcare home or even if you’re looking for walk-in or same-day appointments. Take advantage of our services to stay healthy, prevent illness and manage any chronic healthcare conditions you might have.
