When it comes to managing your health, it’s important to have a primary care provider. They’ll be your home base for all your care, providing preventative medicine, helping you manage chronic conditions, and seeing you when you come down with the flu. But what if you’re thinking about having two primary care providers? Is it possible, or even beneficial? Let’s explore why you may want two primary care providers—this can in some cases be helpful and even beneficial for your health management.

The Benefits of Having Two Primary Care Doctors

There are many reasons why having two primary care providers can be a preferable situation for many patients.

1. Enhanced Accessibility

With two primary care providers, you’ll have more flexibility in scheduling appointments. This means shorter consultation wait times and quicker access to medical advice when you need it most. At WOW, we always like to get you into the clinic for same- or next-day appointments (our direct primary care model makes this super easy), but it never hurts to have added options. When one doctor is unavailable—doctors need a vacation too!—you’ll still be able to reach your other provider.

Additionally, if you split your time living in two locations and prefer to go into the office for an in-person visit, having a PCP in both locations allows you to stick to your preferred method of healthcare delivery.

2. Comprehensive Care

Each primary care doctor brings their expertise and perspective to your healthcare. Consulting both of your doctors can provide a wider range of knowledge and experience, which can result in more comprehensive healthcare. Plus, many individuals simply value having a second opinion, and the dual PCP setup allows you to always get one!

With two primary care doctors, you benefit from the collaboration that occurs between your two doctors. Each doctor will communicate and coordinate with the other to make sure all of your health concerns are addressed properly. They’ll share information and updates so that you aren’t stuck in the middle of them trying to manage all your medical information.

3. Specialists as Primary Care Providers

Did you know that you can designate a specialist as a PCP? There are several different reasons you may want to have a “normal” PCP and a specialist PCP. A specialist PCP may offer a perspective you feel can’t be separated from your routine healthcare—perhaps a geriatrician, a sports medicine doctor, a doctor for a rarer condition, or a women’s health practitioner… For example, a Type 1 diabetic may like to have both a traditional PCP and an endocrinologist as another PCP to feel that all of their health needs are understood and addressed. This plan allows you to have easier access to a specialist and ensures you can always consult them for questions about everyday health.

How WOW Healing Care Facilitates a Dual PCP Relationship

At WOW Healing Care, we understand the importance of coordinated care in optimizing patient outcomes. While it may seem unconventional to have two primary care providers, we believe that it can be beneficial for many patients. Although this is a rather unconventional setup, we have plenty of practice coordinating care outside of our office with specialists. Here’s how we facilitate coordinated care for individuals who choose to have dual primary care doctors:

• Seamless Communication: Our team at WOW Healing Care ensures seamless communication between Dr. Edwards and your primary care provider. This ensures that your medical history, test results, and treatment plans are accessible to all involved parties, facilitating continuity of care.
• Centralized Health Records: With our integrated electronic health record system, your medical information is securely stored, which makes it easily accessible and transferable to other doctors if you wish to have access to those records. Regardless of which primary care doctor you see, they will have access to your complete health record. Of course, we want to make sure that whoever takes care of our patients has access to all the information they might need to guide choices about health interventions.
• Care Coordination: While it’s more typical for WOW Healing Care to coordinate external care with specialists, we are also adept at coordinating care across multiple primary care providers. Our care coordination team works closely with your team to ensure that your healthcare needs are always effectively managed.  

Your Health, Your Choice

Having two primary care doctors can be advantageous for many individuals. With enhanced accessibility, comprehensive care, and seamless coordination facilitated by WOW Healing Care, you can enjoy the benefits of dual primary care providers while ensuring that all aspects of your health are effectively addressed. We always want our patients to feel that their doctors always have their best interest at heart and feel confident in their provider setup.

If you have any questions about coordinating care with two primary care doctors or with a specialist, we invite you to reach out to WOW Healing Care. Give us a call at 760-425-4466 or send us an email at DrEdwards@wowhealingcare.com.  Our dedicated team is here to support you on your journey to optimal health.
For more information about the many services offered at WOW Healing Care, visit our website. To schedule an appointment or speak with a member of our team, use the same information above, and someone will be happy to assist you.