Physical Health Guides
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Find A Doctor
Medical care, dental care, nutrition and self-care are all important to your health.
Everyone deserves to have a primary care provider close to home. A primary care doctor helps you when you’re healthy or when you’re sick, keeping you and your family healthy through all stages of life. There are a variety of high-quality doctors right here in your community. The documents and links below provide an overview of health care options in the KC metro to help you find a doctor that meets your needs.
Search Metro KC health clinics in the 211 database.
Safety Net Clinics by County
Wyandotte County, KS Clinics Johnson County, KS Clinics Cass County, MO Clinics Clay County, MO Clinics Jackson County, MO Clinics Platte County, MO Clinics
Certified Application Counselors
Certified Application Counselors, or CACs, can assist with understanding health insurance options, applying for Marketplace Health Insurance, Medicaid and/or Medicare.
Search for Metro KC CACs in the 211 database.
Tip: Make sure to have an emergency contact list and list of medications for each family member in case medical care is needed.
Preventive Health Care
Why should I have a primary care provider?
Source: Mayo Clinic
A primary care provider (PCP) — who may come from family medicine or internal medicine, depending on your needs — is specialized in diagnosing, treating and preventing a wide variety of conditions. Additional benefits include:
FamiliarityA PCP knows the intricacies of your health and wellness which helps personalize your care and save time that may have previously been spent explaining medical history, personal issues, etc. This relationship helps deliver the right care for you, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Prevention and Condition ManagementA PCP will screen for and help manage all major health-related conditions in order to improve quality of life. That may include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.
Caring For You as a TeamPCP teams are commonly comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, Patient Access staff and patient care associates intended to provide different perspectives and levels of care.
Contact your insurance provider to find a list of primary care providers and begin the search for a provider that is right for you.
What is the difference between visiting a primary care provider and the emergency room or urgent care?
PCP: You go to a primary care provider when you are well for check-ups and physicals, and when you are sick
ER: You only go when you are very sick and can't see your PCP or you have a life threatening illness
PCP: You will usually see the same provider each time
ER: You will see the provider that is working that day
PCP: Your provider will check all areas of your health and may focus on things you weren't concerned about
ER: The provider will mainly check the problem/illness that brought you to the emergency room/urgent care
PCP: You may have a shorter wait time in the office and a longer visit with your provider
ER: You may have a much longer wait time and your interaction with the provider will be shorter
PCP: Your provider will be able to access your complete health record and help you with your health in the long term
ER: The provider who sees you may or may not be able to access your health records or health history
It's important to remember that you may have a higher copay or coinsurance for visits to the emergency department or urgent care.Why do I need regular dental visits?
Source: Oral Health Foundation
Dental appointments shouldn’t just be made when you have a problem that needs to be addressed. Preventing a problem is easier than fixing one, and there are many reasons to get regular dental care:
Check for Mouth CancerDuring a check up, dentists will do an examination for signs of mouth cancer, as well as head and neck cancer. They will check for any red or white patches in the mouth, as well as lumps on the neck and head. Usually these checks will find nothing unusual, but they could potentially save your life.
Dental HygieneDental hygienists are mainly concerned with ‘preventive’ dental health and treating gum disease – showing you correct home care and helping you to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque and tartar, both of which encourage tooth decay and gum disease.
Consultations about Tooth WhiteningYour dentist is in the best position to give you advice about your options when it comes to tooth whitening because there are many myths about whitening and safety issues.
Help and Advice Specific to YouA dentist has trained for years to be qualified and will provide guidance you can trust. By visiting your dentist regularly you can build a good relationship that will allow them to tailor advice and support specific to your needs over a long period of time.
Insurance 101
IMMUNIZATIONS
According to the CDC:
A vaccine stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but can also be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.
Immunization is the process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation.
Why Immunize? Vaccines help prevent people from acquiring diseases. It is better to prevent a disease than to try to treat it after it occurs.
School Immunization Requirements
All students in Kansas and Missouri must present documentation of up-to-date immunization status based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2019-2020 Missouri Requirements
2019-2020 Kansas Requirements
Sources:
Mid America Immunization Coalition, nurturekc.org/solutions/immunization
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, cdc.gov/vaccines
The CDC offers many vaccine and immunization resources:
- An interactive vaccine guide to help families find information at cdc.gov/vaccines/growing
- Six Things You Need to Know About Vaccines at cdc.gov/vaccines//vac-gen/vaxwithme.html
- 2020 Recommended Vaccine Schedules for each age group at cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules