To provide consistent, informed medical services, there’s no substitute for a trusting relationship between the patient and medical care providers. Primary care services provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the 'front door' of the NHS. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry services.The primary care philosophy puts that important relationship back in the spotlight. Primary care frequently includes an educational component in addition to the treatment of diseases, encouraging wellbeing and symptom relief.
The term “health care provider” includes a hospital, skilled nursing facility, nursing facility, home health entity or other long term care facility, health care clinic, community mental health center (as defined in section 300x–2(b)(1) of this title), renal dialysis facility, blood center, ambulatory surgical center described in section 1395l(i) of this title, emergency medical services provider, Federally qualified health center, group practice, a pharmacist, a pharmacy, a laboratory, a physician.