WHAT PRIMARY CARE MEANS TO ME

"They don't just know your eyes or your brain or your stomach, whatever it is, they know the whole you. And you get, I believe, like full care."

Nina

Cancer survivor, transplant recipient, patient activist

"Kayla's nonverbal; she can't tell me what's wrong with her. But for somebody that does have a medical background and that can see probably all of the challenges that she might currently face or that she might be facing...I would say it kind of saved her life."

Monifa

Mother of two, including Kayla, who has cerebral palsy [other occupation}

"Primary care is the biggest way to, or the best way to, prevent somebody from even reaching [those] other specialties where...if [we] would have focused on their health at first, [we] wouldn't even need all these specialties because they would be healthy. They would live longer and happier lives." 

Arturo 

Human services organization director, patient activist

"I had a primary care doctor I've been seeing for 28 years a very trusting relationship. She knew me. She knew about my surgeries. She knew if I said I was in pain, I really meant it. We had that relationship where she could tell just by looking at me, 'Oh, okay. What is going on? I can tell there is something really wrong.' And that is gold!"

Susan

Retired social worker, patient activist

"I really value having my primary care doctor as a quarterback. Not only does he have a good sense of who are the best [specialists] to deal with the kind of issues that I have, as well as to stay in touch with what they are finding and dealing with because it helps them understand what I may need in other areas going forward...He knows the bigger picture and where the puzzle pieces fit."

Ray

Retired US Army officer, patient activist