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

• primary-care adjective

Etymology

Origin of primary care

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

GP surgeries and primary care is often referred to as the "front door" to Scotland's NHS and account for 90% of all patient contacts.

From BBC

It marks the latest in a series of changes to the way primary care services work.

From BBC

The Welsh government said it "recognised that community pharmacies are an essential part of primary care".

From BBC

How many years have you been seeing the same primary care physician?

From MarketWatch

Those who lose health insurance will skip medications and primary care and subsequently get sicker and end up in the emergency room, explained Goel.

From Los Angeles Times