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

There is one primary care physician for every 5,080 residents in Williamsburg County. —Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

These include mental health professionals, occupational, physical, or respiratory therapists, cardiac specialists, primary care physicians, and more. —Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

For example, primary care providers working on high-functioning teams spend up to 14 fewer minutes using the EHR for each visit. —Spencer Dorn, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Individuals should discuss their symptoms and go over eligibility with their primary care provider. CNN: What about other symptoms, such as vaginal dryness? —Katia Hetter, CNN, 30 Oct. 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