When you’re sick: Make primary care your first call

One simple phone call could help save you time and money and give you better care when you’re sick. Be sure to call your primary care provider’s (PCP) office, first, when experiencing non-life-threatening illness or injury, like:

Calling your PCP, first, could help you avoid unnecessary, lengthy wait times and potentially high-cost visits to an urgent care center or emergency department. Plus, your provider office has access to your entire medical record which can provide more efficient and comprehensive care.

During regular business hours

Primary care offices typically have time reserved for same-day sick visits so they can evaluate you in-office or virtually during regular business hours. It’s best to call as early in the day as possible.

After hours

After regular business hours, primacy care offices always have a provider on call to resolve problems by phone or direct you to the proper level of care when necessary.

If your PCP is unavailable to see you when you want to be seen and refers you to urgent care, CDPHP members can connect with a doctor 24/7 from the comfort of their home through a live video doctor visit with Doctor On Demand.

Remember, one simple phone call could help save you time and money and get you better care. When you’re sick, make primary care your first call.

Don’t have a PCP?

Community Care Physicians has little to no wait for new patient appointments. Search their featured practices accepting new patients in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties.

Or visit FindADoc.CDPHP.com to search from more one million providers nationwide in the CDPHP network. Search online for providers in primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health.