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HEALTH CHECK :
The 401 on Primary Care
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Dr . Kate de Klerk , on behalf of the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians , explains primary care physicians . |
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GRAPHICS : GETTY IMAGES . |
HEALTH CENTERS
Thundermist Health Center Woonsocket , 401-767-4100 West Warwick , 401-615-2800 Wakefield , 401-783-0523 thundermisthealth . org
Providence Community Health Centers Various locations , providencechc . org
WellOne Primary Medical Care Various locations , welloneri . org
East Bay Community Action Program Various locations , ebcap . org
For more information and locations of health centers , go to rihca . org
EMERGENCY NUMBERS TO KNOW
Police , Fire or Medical
Assistance : Call 911 ( text-to-911 also available in Rhode Island )
Adult Protective Services in Rhode Island : 401-462-0555
Child Abuse Hotline : DCYF , 800-742-4453
Poison Control : 800-222-1222 , maripoisoncontrol . com
To report power outage or lines down : Rhode Island Energy , 855-743-1102 , rienergy . com
To report a gas leak : Rhode Island Energy , 800-640-1595 , rienergy . com
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Red Cross advice and aid : 1-877-287-3327 , redcross . org / local / rhode-island
All wild animal calls must be sent to the RI Department of Environmental Management ( DEM ): 401-222-4700 , dem . ri . gov
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MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
Thomas C . Slater Compassion Center Providence , 401-274-1000 , slatercenter . com
Greenleaf Compassion Center Portsmouth , 401-293-5987 , greenleafcare . org
RISE Dispensary Warwick Warwick , 401-889-3990 , risecannabis . com
Sweetspot Exeter , 401-268-5126 , sweetspotfarms . com
Aura of Rhode Island Central Falls , 401-335-5356 , auraofri . com
Mother Earth Wellness Pawtucket , 401-352-4300 , motherearthri . com
Solar Cannabis Co . Warwick , 401-642-1919 , solarthera . com
Rhode Island Reef Newport , 401-213-9661 , rhodeislandreef . com
Growth Industries Warwick , 401-688-8886 , growthindustries . com
MEDICAL CANNABIS CONSULTING SERVICES
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B & B Medical Marijuana Evaluation Center Warwick , 401-921-5791 , bandbconsultingri . com
Canna Care Docs Cranston , 401-414-0010 , cannacaredocs . com / rhode-island
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What is the importance of having a primary care physician ? A primary care physician is the doctor who provides continuity to your health care plan . They provide and coordinate care within a complex health care system . They ’ re the person who knows you , your family and your community , and helps you make medical decisions within the context of your personal circumstances . Your PCP will manage many of your acute medical concerns ( e . g . urinary tract infections , headaches or back pain ) and your chronic medical problems ( e . g . high blood pressure , diabetes or depression ), and when your specific medical conditions become increasingly complex , they will help coordinate with the right specialists .
In a world where insurance coverage and health care bureaucracy make it harder to access important medical care , your PCP can help advocate on your behalf , to make sure you get medications , tests or referrals .
Why is there higher demand ? Until 2034 there is predicted to be a shortage of up to 48,000 primary care physicians , amid an overall physician shortage in this same timeframe . Meanwhile , the U . S . population is predicted to grow and we anticipate a forty-two percent increase in people aged sixty-five and older . An aging population also is likely to be more medically complex , with increased demands for health services .
The demographics of the physician workforce are also changing . In the next decade , two out of five physicians will be sixty-five or older and their retirement may have a big impact on PCP ' s supply . Burnout also can determine physician retirement . In a 2019 study , seventy-nine percent of primary care physicians reported feeling burnt out , compared to fifty-sven percent of specialists . And these numbers are worse since the COVID pandemic . With burnout on the rise , PCPs will reduce their clinical hours or accelerate retirement plans , so finding a PCP may become harder .
What is the best way to find a primary care doctor that is accepting new patients ?
If you ’ ve been an established patient and your PCP is leaving or retiring , you should call their practice and ask to be reassigned to another provider there . Sometimes providers who are not accepting new patients will make exceptions for patients within their practice .
If you don ' t have a PCP here , call your insurance company or browse their website to determine which primary care providers accept your insurance . Then search for these physicians online or call them to see if they ' re accepting new patients .
The Rhode Island Department of Health database of primary care doctors lists community health centers , too , and these tend to have many providers in multiple locations , which may be easier to navigate than searching for individual providers . health . ri . gov / find / primarycare
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RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY ’ S NEWCOMERS ’ GUIDE l 2023 49 |