A primary care physician, or PCP, is a physician who generally does not specialize in the treatment of certain organ systems, such as neurology, cardiology, pulmonology or surgical specialties, but are trained in general medical types of patient care.

The most common types of PCPs are those in family practice, general practice, pediatrics and internal medicine. Some HMOs have considered gynecologists to equate to PCPs for the care of women, and on occasion have allowed certain subspecialists to assume PCP responsibilities for selected patient types, such as allergists caring for people with asthma and nephrologists acting as PCPs for patients on kidney dialysis.

See also

• Emergency department
• Health maintenance organization
• Medicine.
• Primary care

Physicians