primary care

American  

noun

1. medical care by a physician, or other healthcare professional, who is the patient's first contact with the healthcare system and who may recommend a specialist if necessary.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• primary-care
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of primary care

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Researchers say the updated PREDIMED-Plus strategy could be used by primary care providers as a sustainable and cost efficient way to help prevent type 2 diabetes on a broad scale.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Within 15 minutes, he said, the primary care doctor was urging him to go see a neurologist.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Dr Graham Mackenzie, NHS Lothian public health consultant, said: "We are working closely with colleagues in hospital and primary care to ensure that if any further cases arise they receive appropriate and timely care."

From BBC • May 6, 2026

In November, a new primary care doctor told Glannan her heart sounded like “a bunch of galloping horses,” Glannan recalled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

We’ve had people come in saying they want to sue some specialist, and we’ll say, ‘We don’t think that doctor was negligent. We think it’s your primary care doctor who was at fault.’

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell