What does Primary Care include?

• A. Health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of health care settings
• B. Hospital-based surgical interventions
• C. Specialist referrals only
• D. Veterinary care

Answer: (B)

Primary care focuses on first-contact, continuous, comprehensive care that promotes health, prevents disease, and manages common illnesses across all ages in a variety of settings. It includes health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, and the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. The relationship is ongoing and coordinated, so care is accessible and continuous over time, with referrals to specialists when more advanced expertise is needed. Hospital-based surgical interventions fall outside primary care; those procedures are typically handled in hospital-based specialty or surgical services. So primary care represents the broad, front-line spectrum of care provided by generalists and their teams, aimed at preventing illness and managing a wide range of health issues in the community.