primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (such as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist

—often used before another noun

a primary care physician

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care

Examples of primary care in a Sentence

He provides primary care to inner-city patients.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s when the Tracys brought Alyssa to her primary care physician, who screened and diagnosed her with autism. —Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024

The clinic has roughly 30 full- and part-time staff, a primary care physician, triage nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians. —Ashley Carnahan, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner or a pediatrician) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist for further treatment

—often used attributively

primary care physicians

primary care practice

primary care medicine

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care