The important role of primary care GPs

A primary care GP is the "go-to" doctor who helps us take care of our general health. They take care of families and individuals and can help with anything from treating colds, flu and infections to managing chronic conditions. They also give guidance on how to better manage our mental health or improve our lifestyle. This makes them a great choice for all healthcare needs.

A primary care GP should be the first person we call when we have a medical problem that isn't an emergency.

The advantage of having a primary care GP who knows you

Getting the right treatment as soon as possible helps to save time and money.

Each time a patient goes to a new doctor, they have to fill in a form explaining their medical history. This includes any chronic medicine they take and the medical conditions they have.

A new doctor won't know this history, or what does and doesn't work for the patient. They can do tests that have been done before, by other doctors. This can be costly and time consuming.

A primary care GP already has this information. They know the healthcare approach that has worked in the past and, importantly, what hasn't. They have a good overall idea of how the patient's body reacts to illness, based on the patient's history. They can make sure that medicines don't interact with each other in a way that could be harmful.

If the patient has one primary care GP, they can develop a meaningful relationship with their GP. Over time, they'll feel more comfortable about being open with their GP and asking questions. This helps the GP to tailor treatments to our specific needs.

A primary care GP can do more than treat you

Studies show that having one primary care GP who coordinates the care patients receive results in the best health outcomes. The primary care GP can lead the team that takes care of the patient's health. GPs can also help patients by:

• Keeping them up to date on their vaccinations
• Suggesting lifestyle changes and behaviours, like managing stress or changing their eating habits, to keep them healthy
• Checking health measures such as blood pressure that can show if the patient at risk of becoming ill
• Managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
• Taking care of the patient's mental health, and referring them to a psychiatrist or psychologist if needed
• Explaining the healthcare system and navigating the system with the patient
• Referring the patient to a specialist, when needed, then discussing the specialist's findings with them
• Keeping track of the patient's medical history and the medical history of their family.

How to find a primary care GP

Discovery's Find a provider service can also help. Employees can log in on our website or use the Discovery app to:

• Find a GP close to them
• Check if the GP is part of our network (GPs who are part of our network charge our rates and offer quality care)
• Find out if a GP someone else recommends is in our network.

We're here to help your employees get the best care

Where to access the best medical care

Our digital tools will show your employees all the network GPs and specialists for their Health Plan. By sharing these tools with them, you can help them find a primary care GP who can accompany them on their life and health journey.