It’s not a dad joke or a riddle…but a serious question. Have you ever wondered how many doctors you need on your healthcare team? It’s a bit of a complicated question but an important one to consider. There are basically two types of doctors, a primary care physician and a specialty physician. If you are a patient at Madison Women’s Clinic, then you have a specialty physician taking care of you.
A primary care doctor is one who is often the first person you contact when something goes awry, whether it’s to take care of an acute issue like a viral or bacterial infection, or a broken bone or strained muscle. They provide, prevent, manage, and treat. A primary care physician is there for the whole family and they cover a vast range of health problems.
A specialty doctor as you know, specializes in one particular kind of care. A podiatrist cares for the feet, a gastroenterologist cares for the digestive system, an ENT helps with issues affecting the ears, nose, and throat. Of course, an Ob/GYN specializes in health issues affecting women, generally from early teens, to women of post menopausal age and beyond. Everyday, they see pregnant women through to delivery. Day in and day out, they focus on the health issues that affect women of all ages. Their additional training also focuses on specific health concerns for women. They attend conferences and classes as technology and science changes, so they are always up to date on the ever changing, and best treatment options.
So, why is this important? It’s important to understand your body, your needs and your healthcare options and more than one doctor is a good idea…in addition to your primary doc, choose specialty doctors as your needs arise.
Some primary care physicians also deliver babies, and that decision often has positive outcomes, however, a general practitioner treats so many different diseases and conditions, that they aren’t exposed to all the twists and turns a pregnancy can take, let alone the intricacies of hormone health. They don’t engage in additional training for the care of pregnant women or delivering babies. Any complications that arise may leave you with negative health impacts and problems that could have been avoided. While a general practitioner is a vital member of your care team, it may be better to consider a specialist to care for you health, as a woman.
An Ob/Gyn can be with through all stages of life and they efficiently and skillfully handle any complications that may arise with your reproductive health, pregnancy, hormone health and more. In a way, you could consider an Ob/Gyn a primary care doctor, but only in diseases and conditions that pertain to women and their health.
Here is a comprehensive list of the ways we care for women and their health. Doesn’t it make sense to have someone with hundreds of hours and endless experience in caring for your specialized needs, than someone with only general knowledge?
Women’s Primary Health Care
- Pregnancy tests
- Preventative health care
- Annual physical exams
- PAP smears
- Missionary Physicals
- Birth control methods
- Thyroid condition management
- High blood pressure treatment
- Mole removal/evaluation
- Urinary tract infections
- Colds, sinus infections, sore throats, flu, viral syndromes
- Menopause management
- Anxiety and depression
- Bone density testing
- Myosure
- Osteopathic Manipulation
- Robotic Surgery
Specialized Women’s Care
- Obstetrics, normal and high risk pregnancies
- Infertility evaluation and treatment
- Incontinence Issues: Bladder function testing and treatment
- Hormone evaluation and treatment
- Abnormal PAP smear treatments
Full range of diagnostic and surgical services including:
- Laparoscopy
- Bladder suspension
- Tubal ligations
- Tubal ligation reversal
- Bilateral Salpingectomy
- Minimally invasive hysterectomy (vaginal and abdominal)
- Conservative endometriosis surgery
- Endometrial ablations for abnormal bleeding
- Infertility surgery and other gynecological surgeries and procedures
- Emergency Gynecologic and Obstetric care
We would love to be a member of your health care team and amplify the care you are already receiving from your favorite primary care provider. Give us a call and see how much more we can do to get you back on the path to health.
