Healthcare is about more than just prescriptions and procedures. It’s about relationships.
While you might have a dedicated family doctor, you might also receive care from other clinicians at different clinics. One key to whole person health is building a care team of people who take time to understand you as a whole person and build the trust essential for true healing.
Take Ashley, whose primary care provider is a naturopathic physician. Or Geneva, who sees a nurse practitioner for primary care as well as a doctor specializing in women’s health for menopause symptom management. Erik, 82, receives care from a geriatrician – a doctor who specializes in older adults’ complex health needs. In each case, the primary clinician can refer them to another member of the health care team if needed.
Your Health Care Team Members
Primary Care Providers
Your primary care provider, also called a primary clinician, is usually your first point of contact. Their office staff, including nurses, medical assistants, navigators, receptionists, and insurance specialists, can often help coordinate most or all of your health care.
The best primary care relationships happen when you and your clinician are a good fit and they take time to understand your full life context – not just your symptoms but your behaviors, social connections, emotional wellbeing, and even spiritual needs. Are you married? Single? Do you have kids, travel a lot, or care for an aging parent or spouse? Perhaps you’ve been through addiction treatment, served in combat, or have a family history of certain diseases. Whatever your individual circumstances, a good primary clinician can take that information and figure it into your plan for preventive care and whole person health.
Specialists
These physicians focus on specific medical areas or body systems, from cardiology to neurology. Although they concentrate on particular conditions, the most effective specialists still take a whole person approach. For example, Mary’s asthma specialist doesn’t just prescribe medication and send her for regular lung function tests with a respiratory therapist. She talks with her about stress management and has helped her connect with an exercise coach and a mental health counselor. Demetrius sees a chiropractor, but his doctor doesn’t just work on his back – he talks with him about maintaining good nutrition to help manage his weight and reduce inflammation that can make back pain worse.
Allied Health Professionals
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, and social workers play crucial roles in your ongoing care. They often spend significant time working with you to build the kind of trusting relationships that support true healing.
Complementary Health Clinicians
Chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can be valuable team members for both treating specific conditions and promoting overall wellness. Integrative therapies and the people who can help you access them also include music therapy, breathwork, meditation, and much more.
The How We Heal Campaign offers free guides for choosing and working with complementary health clinicians. You can also visit the National Institute of Complementary and Integrative Health website to learn more about how these professionals work with conventional medicine clinicians.
Building Healing Relationships
The power of health care lies not just in the treatments prescribed but in the relationships formed. Take Michael, a military veteran who sought care for severe back pain. His clinician, rather than just prescribing medication, took time to understand his whole story – including his struggles with PTSD and isolation. Then the doctor suggested something unexpected: group yoga classes with other veterans. Months later, when asked if the yoga helped his back pain, Michael responded, “I don’t really know … but I’m not suicidal anymore.” The healing came not from the treatment itself but from the relationships he built with his fellow veterans in class.
When your clinician takes the time to ask “What matters to you?” rather than “What’s the matter with you?” they help you create space for whole person health. Consider Winnie and Bill, both in their 70s. After a disagreement with their primary care clinician during the pandemic, they stopped seeing him. That left them with no family doctor, although Winnie still saw a couple of specialists. Without a trusted clinician to coordinate their care, Winnie ended up taking multiple medications that interacted poorly. She also ordered supplements online, sometimes in bulk, creating financial strain for the couple. Bill and Winnie needed more than just medical oversight – they needed someone who could understand their values and support their overall wellbeing.
Making the Most of Wellness Visits
Annual wellness visits offer opportunities to strengthen your relationship with your clinician and look at your whole person health. These visits differ from problem-focused appointments and typically include:
- Reviewing your medical and family history
- Checking vital signs
- Discussing preventive care
- Assessing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing
- Creating personalized health plans
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover annual wellness visits. However, if you have specific health concerns, you’ll likely need to schedule separate appointments to address them.
You may want to take a Personal Health Inventory before your wellness visit so you have information to share with the person who provides your primary care. The HOPE Note is a helpful tool for providers assessing wellness.
Financial Considerations
While building strong relationships is crucial, it’s also important to consider practical matters:
- Insurance plans often specify which members of your health care team you can see and how often.
- Some plans cover complementary health care clinicians’ services, such as acupuncture, while others don’t. Call your plan or check online to avoid surprises.
- Be cautious about expensive subscription-based care services that may not provide better outcomes. Being able to call or text a therapist any time, day or night, doesn’t necessarily make your online therapist more qualified than someone who is a bit less available.
- Understand the difference between wellness visits and problem-focused appointments.
Remember, healing happens best within trusting relationships. Take time to find clinicians who listen deeply, understand your goals, and see you as a whole person. The strongest health care teams aren’t just about credentials – they’re built on connections that support your complete wellbeing.
Understanding Wellness Visits vs. Physical Exams
You might be wondering about the difference between wellness visits and physical exams. While both support your health journey, they serve different purposes in building and maintaining your relationship with your clinician.
Wellness Visits: Planning Your Health Journey
Think of a wellness visit as a checkpoint where you and your primary care clinician map out your path to better health. During these visits, they:
- Get to know you and your health history
- Measure basic health indicators like blood pressure and weight
- Discuss what matters most to you for your health
- Help you create personalized prevention strategies
- Work with you to explore your physical, emotional, and social wellbeing
Physical Exams: A Deeper Health Assessment
Physical exams provide a more comprehensive evaluation of your current health status. These visits typically include:
- Hands-on physical examination
- Specific health screenings
- Lab work or other diagnostic tests
- Discussion of any current health concerns
- Detailed treatment plans for existing conditions
Coverage and Timing
Medicare and most insurance plans cover annual wellness visits as preventive care. Physical exams might require additional coverage or cost sharing, where you pay part of the cost (a co-payment or co-pay) and your insurance company pays the rest.
Your clinician can help determine which type of visit best serves your needs. Some people benefit from both types of visits, while others may need just one. Both types of visits offer valuable opportunities to strengthen your relationship with your primary clinician and create better health.