Primary care is traditionally defined as the the type of medical care that represents the first point of contact for patients when a medical illness, injury, or issue arises.  Primary care services involve not only treatment of acute health conditions, but also health education and preventive medicine.  Primary care doctors provide integrated health care services and receive the specific training required to address the majority of personal health care needs.  Primary care doctors are trained in comprehensive, initial contact and continuing care for patients with previously undiagnosed illness or issue, which is not limited by biological, behavioral, or social origin, gender, organ system, or diagnosis. Primary care services comprise health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, patient education, and treatment and management of acute and chronic illnesses. Primary care is performed by a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner involving additional health care professionals, consultation, and referral, where appropriate.

Primary care services offered by the naturopathic doctors at Cascade Integrative Medicine include physical examinations, paps, well-child visits, sports physicals, acute care visits, childhood vaccinations, dermatological screening, surgical procedures, injections, laboratory testing, and much more. Both medical (MDs) and naturopathic (NDs) doctors, under most insurance plans, can be selected as a patient’s primary care physician (PCP).