It’s important to maintain a relationship with a primary care doctor to live a healthy life. However, it’s not uncommon for people to visit a different primary care physician whenever a medical need comes up.

This is unnecessary, and as you’ll read below, not having a primary care doctor could even delay effective care and cost you more money in the long run.

Here are a few reasons why you only need one primary care doctor.

A regular primary care doctor knows you — and your unique health profile

There’s something we in the medical community refer to as “continuity of care.” It’s the idea that a doctor who knows you, follows your health over time, and coordinates your care will provide higher quality care.

When you see a doctor for the first time, they’ll ask questions about your and your family’s medical history, allergies that you may have, medications you’re taking or have taken in the past, and so on. A doctor who you maintain a relationship with will be able to recognize patterns in the symptoms you’re experiencing today as they relate to medical issues you’ve had in the past or that you may be genetically predisposed to. 

Your doctor will also keep detailed records of each visit, which, if you switch doctors often, may become fragmented and difficult to access. These records are important because you may not remember every medical issue you’ve had or medication you’ve taken. 

Did you know? HealthTap subscribers’ medical history is stored on their HealthTap profile, which they or their doctor can access at any time.

Maintaining a relationship with your doctor builds trust

Communication is vital to maintaining an effective relationship with your doctor. The more they know about your health history, the environments you spend time in, and your health habits, the better equipped they are to provide you with the right care.

When you see the same doctor regularly, it builds trust, which makes it easier for you to talk to them and bring up health concerns you have or that you may have forgotten to mention in the past. It all adds up to better, more effective care for you.

Did you know? HealthTap subscribers get free follow-up texting with their doctors after visits. This makes it easy to stay in touch between visits or to check in on next steps if your symptoms change.

Having one primary care doctor can help save money in the long run

Your primary care doctor will keep detailed records of your medical history. When your doctor knows you’ve taken a certain medication or test, or that you have a known history of a particular condition, they can avoid duplicating care — for example, prescribing something you’ve taken already that wasn’t effective — which can save you money.

In short, your doctor will know what’s more likely to work for you because of things you’ve tried that have or haven’t worked in the past.

Did you know? HealthTap subscribers can get fast prescriptions to any local or mail order pharmacy, compare prices, and access coupons to save up to 75%.

Your doctor can help you manage chronic conditions and connect you to specialists

If you’re one of the many people who manage an ongoing condition such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and others, you know the importance of having a doctor who you can check in with regularly. 

Similarly, if you’re experiencing symptoms that require attention from a specialist, a primary care doctor is the first step to getting connected with the right person. Your doctor will know what type of specialist to connect you with and the key aspects of your personal health history to communicate to that person.

Did you know? Your HealthTap primary care doctor can connect you with all kinds of specialists to help you with any issues that fall outside the purview of primary care.

HealthTap offers quality, convenient, affordable primary care

Engaging with a primary care doctor doesn’t need to happen in-person. In fact, quality primary care can be accessible from the comfort of your home. HealthTap doctors can:

• Save you time — You don’t need to sit in crowded waiting rooms to see your doctor.

• Save you money — $15 per month, and $44 or less per visit (depending on your insurance).

• Meet you where you are — No more missing work or time at home — if you have an internet connection and a video camera on your device, HealthTap doctors can see you.

Your primary care doctor is your first stop on the road to effective care

It’s understandable that you might want multiple opinions when seeking medical care. But the value of one primary care doctor who you see regularly can’t be understated.

A quality primary care doctor is someone who knows you and who you trust. It’s someone who has an intimate understanding of your unique health history and needs, and who can communicate those needs to your pharmacy, specialists, and other physicians who may enter your orbit as needs arise. 

HealthTap was built to connect you with your favorite doctor. Sign up today.