Which statement best describes Primary Care?

• A. Basic or first level care, Outpatient, PTs support primary care team, PCP is gate-keeper to sub-specialists
• B. Inpatient hospital-based care with highly specialized surgeries and transplants
• C. Care provided by continuous nursing and rehab daily
• D. Out-patient, preventative, diagnostic treatment services provided at medical offices, outpatient clinics and surgery centers

Answer: (B)

Primary care is the first point of contact in the healthcare system, providing outpatient, ongoing care that is continuous and coordinated by a primary care physician who often acts as the gatekeeper to specialists. The statement that best describes this role highlights basic or first-level care in an outpatient setting and the PCP’s gatekeeping function to determine when subspecialist referral is needed.

The other descriptions point to different levels of care: inpatient hospital-based care with highly specialized surgeries reflects tertiary, hospital-centered services; continuous nursing and rehab daily describes long-term or skilled nursing care rather than the initial, ongoing primary care relationship; and a broad outpatient, preventive, diagnostic service description is accurate for many outpatient services but doesn’t emphasize the essential gatekeeper and first-contact roles that define primary care.