Schedule your primary care appointment

A primary care provider, or PCP, is the main caregiver who manages most of your health concerns. PCPs do checkups and screenings, as well as treat common illnesses and injuries.

There are four types of primary care providers:

• Pediatrician: These doctors care for children from newborns through young adults (up to age 18).
• Family doctor: These doctors provide care for the whole family — children and adults.
• Internal medicine doctor: These doctors care for adults and can help you manage chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.
• Advanced practitioner: Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals who work closely with your doctor to diagnose, treat and manage your care.

Depending on your individual needs, you may see any or all of the following:

• Doctors: Your primary care doctor oversees your care, procedures and specialist evaluations. 
  
• Physician assistants & nurse practitioners: Take your medical history, examine and treat you, order lab tests and X-rays, perform procedures, make referrals and prescribe medications. 
  
• Nurses & medical assistants: Professional registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified medical assistants provide skilled care. 
  
• Pharmacists: Prepare, educate and help you manage your prescriptions and medications. 
  
• Case managers: If you have complex medical needs, nurse case managers work on a plan to help you reach your best state of health. 
  
• Nurse health managers: Work with you and your care team members to manage specific conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or coronary artery disease. 
  
• Health coaches: Help you reach health goals that are important to your overall well-being, such as improving your diet or increasing your daily activity. 
  
• Community health assistants: Help you find resources such as reliable transportation, medication assistance, secure housing and medical equipment. 
  
• Residents and fellows: These physicians have finished medical school and are going through specialty or subspecialty training. They work in teams with nurses, physician assistants and board-certified physicians.

Patients of all ages, from infants to older adults, are welcome. We’re here to help you find the right primary care physician, including those who specialize in senior health or women’s health. If appropriate, you'll have specialty care for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. You can choose from internal medicine if you are an adult, pediatrics for your child or family medicine for anyone in your family. We’ll help you find additional or specialty care, if needed, with services often available right at your primary care doctor’s office.

Your primary care physician can provide care for:

• Allergies
• Annual checkups
• Cold/flu/fever/sore throat
• Diagnosing and treating illness
• Immunizations and vaccinations
• Infectious disease screenings
• Insect bites
• Minor burns
• Ongoing care for chronic conditions
• Physical exams
• Preventive care
• Routine health screenings
• Sinus, ear, urinary, respiratory and other infections
• Skin rashes or infections
• Sprains and strains

Need specialized care? Your provider can direct you to the right location and refer you to a specialist nearby.

Although our primary care clinics don’t take walk-in appointments, we do offer same- or next-day appointments when possible. We also offer evening and Saturday hours. For more immediate care or walk-in care, you can visit one of our urgent care locations.

Primary care at Geisinger accepts numerous health plans. View a list of participating insurances or call the Patient Service Call Center at 800-640-4206 for more information. 

Whether you’re looking for a new primary care physician or would like to switch from your current Geisinger provider, changing doctors is easy! Click here to find a primary care provider near you or request an appointment by calling 800-275-6401. Current Geisinger patients can also book an appointment through MyGeisinger.