The Key to Both Quality and Longevity of Life is Primary Care. Here’s Why
By Monica Vanover August 29, 2025
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Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician, even when you’re healthy, can definitely decrease your risk.
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Here are five big takeaways for seeking primary care.
2. The Power of Long-Term Relationships
Question: What are some of the less obvious benefits of having a PCP? How can they help with lifestyle changes, stress management, or mental health support?
Curtis: Screening exams and questionnaires like the PHQ-2, which is a depression screening, are given out every time you come in. A lot of times, patients will even come in and say, 'Oh, well, you know, I circled that just because...' whatever explanation, and I say, 'We can talk about that. Why do you feel that way?' And it leads to a conversation that they maybe didn't anticipate having, but they realized, 'Oh yeah, I mean, I guess it is something that I should talk about.'
The thing I love doing the most is congratulating people who have made health improvements like losing weight or who have dropped their A1C if they're diabetic, and telling them congratulations, and acknowledging them saying, 'You've obviously been putting in work on the back end, and it's come to fruition.' I love seeing them smile and be happy about that.
Takeaway: Having a PCP gives you a partner in your health, someone to encourage you when you’re struggling and someone to congratulate you when you reach your health goals.
For my age, what screening exams are standard?
What lab work is standard?
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•
Question: Can you explain the role of preventive care in maintaining good health? How does a PCP help facilitate and personalize preventive care strategies?
Curtis: There's lifespan, and then there's healthspan. Sure, a lot of people say they want to live a long time. But what if the last 30 years you're absolutely miserable? Preventive health strategies facilitated through your primary care physician are the best way to ensure the quality of your life matches the quantity. These strategies include screenings, blood tests and questionnaires that help us identify potential issues.
Whether it's eating better, quitting smoking or managing chronic conditions, having the accountability of someone who cares about your health matters. Patients will come in and I’ll say, 'Hey, you're at 2% risk of a cardiac event in the next 10 years, we're not talking about starting statins yet, but let's talk about diet. Let's talk about improving those things.' And then you can come back in the next year and get your report card.
Takeaway: Living longer isn’t the be-all and end-all if you don’t live better, too. Preventive care through a personal relationship with your PCP is the best way to have both a long lifespan and healthspan.
The big takeaway is simple: Don’t wait until you’re sick to see a doctor. A yearly visit with your primary care provider can greatly improve both the quality and longevity of your life.
With Open Enrollment season fast approaching, choosing Dignity Health for your health care can help connect you to a primary care provider like Bryan. If you need help navigating Open Enrollment, check out Dignity Health’s Guide to Open Enrollment!
Visit dignityhealth.org/OpenEnrollment for more information.
1. Primary Care Matters When You Feel Healthy
Question: What are the key benefits of establishing a long-term relationship with a PCP? How does that continuity of care impact a patient's overall health outcomes?
Curtis: Patients who seek care from urgent care and ERs are more than likely seeing a provider for the first time. This new provider has a very limited amount of time to piece together a health history while treating the event that brought the patient in. Interacting with health care this way is not conducive to continuity of care, which can negatively impact a patient’s overall health outcomes.
By contrast, patients with an ongoing relationship with a PCP are building a health history. When you have a PCP who knows your medical background, you enjoy a level of trust and comfort which leads to more personalized health care interactions. This speeds up the care process because your doctor doesn't have to spend valuable time reviewing extensive charts to understand your history, medications or past conditions. This efficiency allows your PCP to dedicate more time to you and the reason for your visit.
Takeaway: Having a long-term relationship with your primary care provider leads to more effective, personalized care.
Question: Many people only see a doctor when they're sick. Why is it important to have a primary care provider even when you feel healthy?
Curtis: I think it's preventive health versus reactionary health care. Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician, even when you’re healthy, exposes you to screening tools and expert medical diagnosis so we can identify issues before they become bigger, which can definitely decrease your risk.
Plus, there's really no downside to doing a once-a-year physical. Catching health issues early—it's financially beneficial too. You can deal with something early on, before something's a big deal and get it covered. Preventive versus reactionary health care is cheaper and just overall better for healthspan.
Takeaway: Primary care improves quality of life. It’s more effective, more affordable and decreases health risks compared to waiting until something’s wrong to seek care.
3. Lifespan is Different Than Healthspan
4. There are Unexpected Benefits of Primary Care in Mental Health and Lifestyle
5. What to Know before Your First Visit
Question: Let’s say I’ve enrolled in a new health plan. What questions should I ask my PCP during a new patient visit?
Curtis: If you're a healthy person coming in for your annual physical, make sure that the screening exams are being done. Ask:
If you don't want to dig into specifics, just simply ask, 'I want all the screening exams that are indicated for my sex and my age going forward.’
If anything's abnormal or you have any chronic conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, then ask specific questions that pertain to your condition.
Also, bring your medications, gather any health documents and bring a list of your questions. And most importantly, show up on time. On-time arrival ensures you’ll get the most time with your new primary care physician!
Takeaway: There are practical steps patients can take to prepare for their new patient appointments.
"We definitely care about spending time with you,” Curtis emphasizes. “It’s one of the reasons I chose to come to the primary care side at Mercy Medical Group. Everyone here cares about you and seeing you being as healthy as you can be!”
Everyone here cares about you and seeing you being as healthy as you can be.
Choosing a primary care provider (PCP) is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Yet, many of us wait until we’re sick to see a doctor. Bridging this gap in care is part of the patient-focused mission of Dignity Health, offering compassionate care through extensive primary and specialty care throughout the Sacramento region.
Bryan Curtis, a Physician Assistant at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, brings a unique perspective to primary care, having transitioned from urgent care—where he rarely saw the same individuals—to a primary care office where he’s able to build relationships with his patients. His experience on both sides of health care delivery offers valuable insights into why establishing a relationship with a primary care provider is crucial for your long-term health and how it aligns with Dignity Health’s mission to improve health equity for the communities they serve.
By Monica Vanover August 29, 2025
Here are five big takeaways for seeking primary care.
2. The Power of Long-Term Relationships
Question: Can you explain the role of preventive care in maintaining good health? How does a PCP help facilitate and personalize preventive care strategies?
Curtis: There's lifespan, and then there's healthspan. Sure, a lot of people say they want to live a long time. But what if the last 30 years you're absolutely miserable? Preventive health strategies facilitated through your primary care physician are the best way to ensure the quality of your life matches the quantity. These strategies include screenings, blood tests and questionnaires that help us identify potential issues.
Whether it's eating better, quitting smoking or managing chronic conditions, having the accountability of someone who cares about your health matters. Patients will come in and I’ll say, 'Hey, you're at 2% risk of a cardiac event in the next 10 years, we're not talking about starting statins yet, but let's talk about diet. Let's talk about improving those things.' And then you can come back in the next year and get your report card.
Takeaway: Living longer isn’t the be-all and end-all if you don’t live better, too. Preventive care through a personal relationship with your PCP is the best way to have both a long lifespan and healthspan.
For my age, what screening exams are standard?
What lab work is standard?
•
•
Question: What are some of the less obvious benefits of having a PCP? How can they help with lifestyle changes, stress management, or mental health support?
Curtis: Screening exams and questionnaires like the PHQ-2, which is a depression screening, are given out every time you come in. A lot of times, patients will even come in and say, 'Oh, well, you know, I circled that just because...' whatever explanation, and I say, 'We can talk about that. Why do you feel that way?' And it leads to a conversation that they maybe didn't anticipate having, but they realized, 'Oh yeah, I mean, I guess it is something that I should talk about.'
The thing I love doing the most is congratulating people who have made health improvements like losing weight or who have dropped their A1C if they're diabetic, and telling them congratulations, and acknowledging them saying, 'You've obviously been putting in work on the back end, and it's come to fruition.' I love seeing them smile and be happy about that.
Takeaway: Having a PCP gives you a partner in your health, someone to encourage you when you’re struggling and someone to congratulate you when you reach your health goals.
The big takeaway is simple: Don’t wait until you’re sick to see a doctor. A yearly visit with your primary care provider can greatly improve both the quality and longevity of your life.
With Open Enrollment season fast approaching, choosing Dignity Health for your health care can help connect you to a primary care provider like Bryan. If you need help navigating Open Enrollment, check out Dignity Health’s Guide to Open Enrollment!
Visit dignityhealth.org/OpenEnrollment for more information.
Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician, even when you’re healthy, can definitely decrease your risk.
Choosing a primary care provider (PCP) is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Yet, many of us wait until we’re sick to see a doctor. Bridging this gap in care is part of the patient-focused mission of Dignity Health, offering compassionate care through extensive primary and specialty care throughout the Sacramento region.
Bryan Curtis, a Physician Assistant at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, brings a unique perspective to primary care, having transitioned from urgent care—where he rarely saw the same individuals—to a primary care office where he’s able to build relationships with his patients. His experience on both sides of health care delivery offers valuable insights into why establishing a relationship with a primary care provider is crucial for your long-term health and how it aligns with Dignity Health’s mission to improve health equity for the communities they serve.