Guide to Primary Care Providers

Find Your Perfect Primary Care Provider
Contact Us Through Email or Call  1.800.LAKELAND (525.3526)


Do You Understand the Different Types of Primary Care Providers?

"PCP" is a common acronym or abbreviation for a primary care provider. This is usually a physician, but can also be a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician's assistant (PA) who works under the direction of a physician.

To help you determine what type of health care provider may be right for you, here is a guide to primary care providers located here in southwest Michigan.

Osteopathic doctors (DOs) are doctors of osteopathic medicine, who are fully qualified physicians, licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery.

Doctors of Medicine (MD) have an undergraduate degree then complete four years of medical education at an accredited medical school. This is followed by a three to seven yearlong residency program of supervised practice. Doctor's may go on to complete a fellowship of one to three years for more specialized training. Doctors are licensed to practice medicine after successfully completing a state licensing examination.

Family Medicine / Family Practitioners provide continuing, all-inclusive health care for individuals of both genders and all ages. By placing special attention on the family as a group, the Family Medicine practitioner provides more integrated care to all patients within a family.

  • They emphasize disease prevention and wellness by suggesting preventive tests
  • They coach patients to make lifestyle changes to prevent serious medical conditions
  • They monitor chronic conditions to avoid further complications

When a referral to a specialist is necessary, the Family Medicine practitioner collaborates with the specialist, coordinating the patient's healthcare and serving as the patient's advocate in all care settings.

Internal Medicine / Internists provide medical (nonsurgical) care for patients ranging in age from adolescent through senior years. Internists focus on the entire body of a patient and function in many capacities, as a diagnostician, a personal physician, health counselor, educator and consultant. As diagnosticians, they are specially trained to solve address medical situations in which several different illnesses may occur at the same time. They can manage complex and chronic illnesses, but also encourage wellness. As primary care physicians, they care for patients for life and coordinate care when other specialists are needed.

Nurse practitioners (NP) are registered nurses with advanced degrees and training in diagnosis and treatment of illness. NPs may prescribe medications, administer physical exams, and counsel patients on how to stay healthy.

Pediatricians specialize in the treatment of children ranging in age from newborn to adolescents. They also attend four years of medical school followed by three years of residency training. They provide preventive care for healthy children and treat children who are injured or ill. They specialize in childhood diseases, growth and emotional health.

Physician assistants (PA) perform physical examinations, counsel patients and prescribe certain medications under a doctor's supervision. Most PAs have an undergraduate degree and complete an accredited PA program often taking two years of full-time study. They also require state licensure.

Continue Watching

Physician Video Profile: Esther Servillas, MD (Internal Medicine)

Esther Servillas, MD is a physician practicing internal medicine and geriatrics at Corewell Health Primary Care - Royalton Family and Internal Medicine in St. Joseph, MI.

Physician Video Profile: Barbara Glassford, NP (Family Medicine)

Barbara Glassford, NP, offers a range of care for adults in the primary care setting, from routine wellness to coordinated care management for patients who may have more complex needs and see a variety of specialists.

Provider Video Profile: Pansy Samuel, N.P. (Cardiology)

Pansy Samuel, NP, is part of an experienced team at Corewell Health trained specifically to care for people with cardiovascular conditions.

Patricia McCarthy, N.P. (Pulmonary & Critical Care)

Patricia McCarty’s, N.P., wide range of patient management experience enables her to connect with patients to understand the root causes of their condition and find solutions.

Physician Video Profile: Garrett Muhlstadt, D.O. (Family Medicine)

Dr. Muhlstadt empowers patients to feel educated and confident in their health and discover care plans best suited for their lifestyle.

Check-up: Understanding COPD and its causes (Jeffrey Grondin, MD)

COPD can be triggered by genetic conditions and environmental factors at work and home.

Physician Video Profile: Kamelia Burrell-Fowler, NP (Family Medicine)

Burrell-Fowler’s approach to care is focused on listening, empowering and educating patients as they collaboration to develop a plan of care tailored to each unique individual.

Check-up: Health check for turning 45 (Lindsey Kinney, DO)

A colonoscopy helps prevent colon cancer and can address and test areas of concern.

Check-up: The importance of routine health care (Lindsey Kinney, DO)

Prioritizing regular, yearly health screening can have major impacts to your long-term health.

Check-up: Measles; very contagious and unpleasant (Raul Torres, DO)

Raul Torres, DO, explains that this is something we hadn’t seen for a long time and the way to prevent it is through vaccination.

Copyright © 2024 Corewell Health. All rights reserved.
Hospital