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primary care
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Primary care & family care | HealthPartners & Park Nicollet
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Primary care

Primary care physicians, such as family medicine and internal medicine doctors, are health experts uniquely trained to guide you through all stages of life. We have 55 primary care clinics in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, so better health is always right around the corner.

We’ve got you covered with same-day primary care at our clinics, 20 urgent care locations and our 24/7 online clinic Virtuwell. You also have quick access to your medical information and helpful health resources any time through your online account.

With over 1,900 of the top board-certified primary care doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, we have a team of experts for you.

A strong primary care team is a key part of living well. Whether you’re staying up to date on preventive care, noticing new symptoms or managing a long-term health condition, you need experts with the experience and knowledge to understand the full picture of your health –physical and mental.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we’ve designed our primary care group to provide collaborative, comprehensive care for families and individuals. To ensure that you and your loved ones get the care you need, we have a variety of board-certified doctors in our primary care offices, from internal and family medicine doctors to pediatricians, OB-GYNs and other specialists. Plus, many of our clinics have labs, radiology departments, urgent care and on-site pharmacies so you can get tests, treatments and medications all in the same place.

## Meet our primary care experts

When you’re ready to make an appointment, you can schedule it with any of the following members of our primary care team:

Family medicine doctors – Family medicine doctors care for everyone in your family, from the new baby to grandma. Since this gives them a deeper familiarity with your family’s medical history, they’re able to provide more specific, personalized care.

Internists and internal medicine doctors – Internal medicine doctors focus on caring for adults. They provide a range of services, including preventive care, physical checkups and health screenings. They treat conditions specific to both men’s and women’s health, as well as minor illnesses, injuries and chronic conditions.

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners– Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are licensed to perform physical checkups, diagnose and treat illnesses, manage chronic diseases and prescribe medications.

Pediatricians – Pediatricians specialize in caring for children, from babies to young adults. Trained to treat both minor illnesses and injuries, as well as more complex conditions, pediatricians are experts at keeping kids of all ages on track toward a healthy future.

Internal medicine/pediatrics doctors– A combined meds-peds physician has a dual board certification and can treat everyone, including children, adolescents and adults.

OB-GYNs and midwives– OB-GYNs and midwives specialize in women’s health. They can practice within a primary care office or a specialty clinic and provide routine women’s health services and screenings. They also provide care during milestones such as family planning, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.

Additionally, many of our primary care clinics have dietitians, diabetes educators, care coordinators, pharmacists and psychologists to help you develop personalized plans for achieving your health goals.

We also have people trained to answer your questions regarding insurance and payment options.

## What we commonly treat

- Annual physicals

- Chronic (long-term) disease management, including high blood pressure, depression and diabetes

- Common illnesses and injuries

- Immunizations

- Kids' health, including newborn and well-child exams

- Men’s health, including sleep issues, hair loss and annual physicals

- Mental health concerns

- Nutrition and weight management

- Recommended screenings by age

- Seasonal respiratory illnesses

- Skin conditions

- Sleep issues

- Women’s health, including breast health, annual exams, prenatal and postnatal care

## Frequently asked questions about primary care (FAQs)

### How do I make an appointment?

### What is primary care?

Primary care is your first stop for most health care needs. The different types of primary care doctors can help you with preventive care – such as annual physical checkups, screenings and vaccines – as well as diagnosing and managing many common chronic conditions like hypertension, stable heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They’re also there when an illness or injury interrupts your day.

### What’s the difference between family medicine and internal medicine?

While these specialties overlap, they do have one key difference. Doctors who are family medicine specialists treat patients of all ages, while internal medicine doctors are trained to treat both simple and complex conditions from early adulthood through old age. Choose the doctor that’s right for you based on your age and the medical care you need.

### What does your primary care team provide?

Primary care doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are trained in many different areas of health. Many also have specialized expertise in a certain area, like diabetes or geriatrics. They often perform your annual physical checkup and work with you to coordinate your care, arrange for consults with specialists when needed and collaborate with other members of your care team to make getting the help you need easier.

### How do I choose a doctor?

Some people like seeing different doctors, while others prefer to choose one doctor who will get to know them well over time. Whatever your preference, here are some things to consider when choosing a doctor.

- Choose a doctor who is board certified. That means their education and experience goes beyond the state-issued permit to practice medicine, and the doctor has completed additional training and passed the required board exam.
- Choose someone you think you can relate to by reviewing the doctor’s online biography. Ask yourself, “How does this doctor’s biography make me feel?” “Is their communication style a good fit for me?” “How well does it inform me about the doctor’s expertise and interests?”
- Choose a clinic location that’s close to home or work.
- Choose a doctor that’s part of a care group that has multiple care options, like convenient urgent care locations, online treatment (like Virtuwell) and a 24/7 nurse line to call with health questions.
- Choose a doctor and clinic that offers you access to online medical records for easy access to your health history, lab results and recommended screenings.

### Why choose HealthPartners and Park Nicollet for primary care?

We know that making your health a priority is a commitment, so we do everything we can to make it as simple and easy as possible. Our experienced primary care team can handle the majority of health needs. In cases where something requires more specialized care, we can refer you directly to experts in over 50 specialty departments.

Other methods that we use to streamline your experience include:

- Online accounts that offer easy access to medical records, immunization records, lab results and bills.
- A variety of appointment types, including in-person, video and phone visits.
- Optional text notifications for appointments and lab results.
- 20 urgent care locations.
- Our 24/7 online clinic, Virtuwell, which can get you a diagnosis, treatment plan and prescription if needed – typically in about 30 minutes.

### What health conditions can be treated online?

Most common conditions can be treated online, saving you time and money. Our 24/7 online clinic, Virtuwell, can help you with acne, flu, sinus infections, allergies, birth control and much more – wherever you are and from any device.

Here’s how it works:

The first step is to answer a few questions, which are the same ones you would hear in the doctor’s office. Then, a board-certified nurse practitioner will review your answers and develop a treatment plan.

You’ll get a text and email when your treatment plan is ready. And if you have any questions, nurse practitioners are available by phone around the clock.

And don’t worry, if Virtuwell can’t treat you, there’s no charge.

### What insurance do you accept?

We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.

Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.

Don’t have your card in front of you? Here are member services numbers to help you get started:

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