primary care

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.

Other Word Forms

• primary-care adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of primary care¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

“People with blood pressure of 145 over 95 might be told by their primary care physician … that’s fine … just exercise more.”

From Los Angeles Times

CVS, however, noted that this individual could still contact a primary care provider “to help with next steps.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If the doctor’s visit competes with food on the table or rent, then people are going to skip those primary care visits,” she said — and often “end up in the emergency room” instead.

From Los Angeles Times

He said wait times for primary care appointments for existing patients at Temple are unchanged over the past fiscal year.

From Salon

The health board said it "continues to work closely with the partnership, through enhanced monitoring arrangements, in respect of the three practices to ensure contractual compliance and the ongoing delivery of accessible primary care services".

From BBC