With the holiday season rapidly approaching, make sure you’ve had your annual wellness visit with a primary care provider. Illnesses tend to spread more easily over the holidays when people gather indoors with friends and family.

It’s best to be established with a primary care provider before you get sick. When you have a relationship with a primary care provider, your provider becomes very familiar with you and your healthcare needs, often resulting in better care.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies show that patients with access to a regular primary care physician receive more effective and higher quality care. They also report lower overall healthcare costs, improved health outcomes, fewer hospitalizations and less duplication in treatment.

Primary care providers:

• Manage your chronic diseases, illnesses and acute illnesses.

• Make sure that you stay on track with regular screening tests.

• Are usually the first to spot signs of disease such as cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

• Recommend medications, treatments and lifestyle changes to help manage your health.

• Recommend and administer immunizations.

• Make appropriate referrals to specialists.

• Help you prevent illnesses and emergency room visits.

• Offer education and support with all decisions regarding your health.

Consistent primary care can help you stay healthy. Many people develop a trusting, ongoing relationship with their primary care physician or provider that lasts for decades, so it’s important to choose one you feel comfortable with.

Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has more than 80 providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.