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

The business works with a growing number of US healthcare providers – individual doctors as well as clinics and hospitals – that receive a constant stream of referrals from primary care providers. —David Prosser, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Start by working with a primary care provider or general practitioner. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024

Hovde, Baldwin dispute Affordable Care Act's effectiveness Hovde argued the Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care legislation passed under Democratic former President Barack Obama, failed to lower costs, increase access and allow patients to keep their primary care providers. —Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 19 Oct. 2024

Earlier in 2023, the company completed a $10.6 billion deal to buy Oak Street Health, a company that runs primary care centers for lower-to-middle income people with Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of the federal government's program for people aged 65 and older. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 18 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