The Primary care reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Primary care

In medicine, primary care is a specialism that acts as a first point of consultation for all patients. Generally, primary care physicians are based in the community, as opposed to the hospital. Alternative names for the field are general practice and family medicine.

Because of the nature of problems presented to a primary care physician, he/she has to keep a holistic view of the patient, investigating carefully if the problem presented can be managed by reassurance and symptomatic treatment or by intervention.

Examples of diseases managed in primary care are:

• Diabetes mellitus (type II)
• COPD
• Depression
• Back pain

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