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At UVa Health System and its affiliated practices, several types of doctors are certified by national medical boards to provide essential care known as primary care. Some of these doctors also work closely with nurse practitioners (nurses with advanced training), who are also qualified to provide primary care. All primary care providers conduct regular checkups to help you stay healthy, take care of you when you're sick or injured, manage a chronic condition and assist with your decision to have a certain test or to see a specialist.
The common element among all of UVa's primary care providers is a desire to help their patients as one UVa doctor says, "acheive optimal health through a continuous doctor/patient relationship that develops through time. When illness may appear, that bond can facilitate the healing process."
How do I know which doctor is right for me? These definitions may help.
What's a family medicine doctor?
What's an internal medicine doctor?
What's a pediatrician?
What's an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN)?
What's a midlife gynecologist?
What's a geriatrician?
Family medicine doctors are unique because they treat people of all ages -- from newborns to those in their golden years. They are trained to provide the same care as a pediatrician (who cares for children), an obstetrician/gynecologist (who cares for women) or a geriatrician (who cares for people 65 and over.) Some of UVa's family medicine doctors even have special training in sports medicine and allergies. You may want a UVa family medicine doctor if you want your doctor to know your whole family. Find a UVa Family Medicine Doctor right for you.
Internal Medicine doctors specialize in caring for adults. Many often have special expertise helping adults manage a chronic condition such as diabetes and heart disease. UVa has several internal medicine practices in several counties. Find a UVa Internal Medicine doctor right for you.
Pediatricians are doctors who care for children from newborns to teenagers. It's important to get to know a pediatrician even before your child is born. UVa's pediatricians welcome indepth questions from parents looking for a PCP just for their child. Find a UVa Pediatrician right for you.
Obstetrician/Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are doctors who specialize in health care for women. Check with your insurance plan; many allow women to have two PCPs -- a family medicine or internal medicine doctor who provides general health care and an OB/GYN to see annually for pelvic exams, more often during pregancy and throughout life for other issues related to the female reproductive system. Find a UVa OB/GYN right for you.
Midlife Gynecologists are obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) doctors who see women of all ages but have particular expertise in the many issues women face just before, during and after menopause. (Check with your insurance plan; many allow women to have two PCPs -- a family medicine or internal medicine doctor who provides general health care and an who provides care for issues related to the female reproductive system.) UVa's midlife specialists are based at Northridge, just west of Charlottesville past Boar's Head. Find a UVa Midlife Gynecologist right for you.
Geriatricians are internal medicine or family medicine doctors who specialize in issues related to aging and helping those over 65 stay active and independent. UVa's geriatricians have offices convenient to Lake Monticello, Colonnades retirement community and the Jefferson Area Board for Aging complex. Find a UVa Geriatrician right for you.
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