departments
Primary Care Provider (PCP)
かかりつけ医（プライマリケアプロバイダー） (kakaritstuke-i (puraimari kea purobaidā))
A Primary Care Provider (PCP) is a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who serves as a patient's main healthcare contact for routine and preventive care. PCPs handle annual wellness visits, manage chronic conditions, prescribe medications, and coordinate referrals to specialists. Under HMO plans, designating a PCP is required and the PCP serves as the gatekeeper to specialized care. PCPs may be family medicine doctors, general internists, or pediatricians.
Establishing care with a PCP before a health problem arises is strongly recommended for both continuity of care and cost management.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Primary Care Provider (PCP) |
| Japanese (日本語) | かかりつけ医（プライマリケアプロバイダー） |
| Chinese (中文) | 初级保健医生 |
| Korean (한국어) | 주치의 |
| Portuguese | Médico de Atenção Primária |
| Spanish | Médico de Atención Primaria |
| Filipino | Pangunahing Doktor |
| Thai | แพทย์เวชปฏิบัติทั่วไป |
| Vietnamese | Bác sĩ chăm sóc sức khỏe ban đầu |
| Romanization | kakaritstuke-i (puraimari kea purobaidā) |
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Browse US healthcare guides →Last reviewed: September 2026