Who typically provides primary care services?

The provision of primary care services is primarily the role of general practitioners. They are medical doctors who are specifically trained to provide comprehensive and ongoing healthcare, focusing on overall health management rather than specializing in a particular area of medicine. General practitioners are equipped to diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues, offer preventive care, and refer patients to specialists when necessary. They are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking medical advice or treatment.

Other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, can assist in primary care settings, but they work under the guidance of general practitioners and do not have the same level of training to independently provide the full spectrum of primary care. Surgeons, on the other hand, focus on surgical procedures and do not typically engage in primary care, while emergency responders are trained to handle acute medical situations and emergencies rather than ongoing patient care.