Doctors and Pharmacies

A primary care physician (PCP) is your main doctor. You should go see them first, unless you have an emergency, so that they can treat you or send you to another doctor who can better serve you.

Call the office and let them know if you are a new patient. Tell them the reason you want to see the doctor. You will need to give them the name of your insurance and insurance number.

Go see your primary care physician for a regular check-up, small injuries, colds, coughs, earaches, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint problems, immunizations, TB skin test, sexual health problems or asthma.

You will need to bring your insurance card to your appointment. You will also be asked about your family's health history and for any medication that you are taking. Bring your medication bottles with you.

You should arrive at the office 15 minutes before the appointment to fill out paperwork. You must check-in at the front desk. After, a nurse will call you in and check your weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate.

The doctor will go to your room, look at your medical history that you gave earlier and ask you what problems you are having. The doctor will check for physical symptoms and tell you what the problem may be. They will tell you what treatment is available. This can mean giving you a prescription for medication, referring you to a specialist or having you get lab tests or x-rays done.

If the problem needs a special doctor, your doctor will refer you to a specialist who has extra education in the problem area. Your doctor may give you the name of a specific doctor, or give you a list that you need to pick from.

You may require special medication for your illness that the doctor will need to prescribe. In New York, the doctor will ask you what pharmacy you go to and send the information about your medication to the pharmacy electronically. You will then need to go to the pharmacy to pick-up the medication.

The doctor may want you to get your blood or urine tested to understand a problem that cannot be seen. The doctor may also want you to get an x-ray to see if there are any problems with your bones. They will give you a paper that has a list of places you can go. You will need to pick a place from the list.

Some doctors have you see a case manager or social worker after the appointment. The case manager or social worker will make sure you understand what the doctor told you.

You may need to schedule another visit with your doctor depending on the problem and what the doctor tells you. If the doctor thinks you are healthy, they will tell you that you can come back in a year, unless a problem comes up before then. If the doctor had you do lab tests, x-rays or go to a specialist, they will have you make an appointment for after you do those things. The doctor will let you know when you should make your next appointment.

You should have your teeth cleaned every 6 months or at least 1 time a year. During a cleaning appointment, your teeth will be cleaned and checked for gum disease. You will also have x-rays done on your teeth to see if there are any problems.

Cavities or decay are problems with your teeth. You should have them fixed as soon as you or your doctor notice the problem. Cavities can be filled by special material so that your tooth is no longer in pain.

The inside of your tooth may become infected causing more pain. You may need a root canal if your tooth is in pain. Your dentist will let you know if you need a root canal to fix the inside of the tooth. A root canal is a way to fix the tooth and get rid of the pain so you do not have to get it taken out.

Dental implants are teeth that are made to replace your regular teeth. They can help you if you lost a tooth but want to be able to chew the same way or if you want your teeth to look the same.

Dentures are larger sections of teeth that are made to replace those that you lost.

A cardiologist is a doctor that works on people with heart problems.

A dermatologist is a doctor who works with people who have problems with their skin.

A gastroenterologist, also called a G.I., works with people who have problems with their stomach or digestive system.

If you have an illness that can be passed to someone else, it may be an infectious disease. You will then need to see a special doctor to take care of it.

A neurologist works with people who have problems with their nerve system.

An obstetrician-gynecologist, or OB/GYN, works with women for pregnancy and other health issues that affect women.

A pediatrician is a doctor who only works with children.

A pulmonologist works with people who have problems breathing or with their lungs.

A psychiatrist works with people who have mental health problems.

A urologist works with people who have problems with urination.

If you need a blood or urine test, you can usually go when you have time. If you need an x-ray, you may need an appointment, so it is important to call before going there.

For some blood tests, you cannot eat for a certain amount of hours before the test. It is important that you understand the information for the test that your doctor wants you to take. If you do not follow the instructions, you may not be able to do the test and will have to go back later.

When you get to the office for your test, you will need to give the person checking you in the paper that your doctor gave you for testing. You will also need to bring your insurance card with you and fill out paperwork. You may also have to pay for the tests if your insurance does not pay for it.

Make sure that you give your doctor's information to the testing office so that they can send the results to your doctor.

After your tests are done, you will be told how long it will take for the results to be done. They will then send that information to your doctor. It is very important to make an appointment with your doctor to go over the tests.

If your doctor wants you to take medication, you will need to go to a pharmacy to pick it up. If it is prescription medication, the doctor will send the information to the pharmacy. Pharmacies can be found in Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Tops Market or Walmart.

When your medication is ready, you can pick it up from the pharmacy. The pharmacist should tell you how to take your medication. You can ask for an interpreter if you do not understand. You will also be given paper that tells you how to take the medication and what things can happen when you take the mediation.

Generic medications are ones that don't have a company's name connected to them. They are the same medication, but generic ones are cheaper.

Make sure that you follow all the instructions on how to take your medication. Do not take more than you are supposed to at one time or in one day. If you are confused, ask the pharmacist.

Some medication is taken for a longer time. If your doctor thinks you need medication for over a month, they will tell the pharmacy that you can refill your medication. This means that when you are running out of medication, you can call or go to the pharmacy and tell them that you need more without going to your doctor. When you have no more refills, you will need to go back to your doctor to get more medication.