• Online Scheduling | Careers

Northwest Health - Starke
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
        • Diabetes Care
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Emergency Services
        • Heart Care
        • Laboratory Services
        • Respiratory Care
        • Surgical Services
        • Urgent Care
        • Wellness & Rehabilitation
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • Award Nominations
              • Directions
              • Events
              • Financial Information
              • Health Library
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
              • Request Medical Records
                • Careers
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Northwest Medical Group
                  • Outpatient Rehabilitation
                  • Urgent Care
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Auxiliary
                    • Awards & Accreditations
                    • Careers
                    • Community Benefits
                    • Community Support
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Quality & Safety
                    • Volunteer Opportunities
                      • NWHealthIN.com
                      • Northwest Health
                        • Northwest Health - La Porte
                        • Northwest Health - Porter
                        • Northwest Health - Starke
                        • Northwest Health - Lakeshore Surgicare
                        • Northwest Medical Group
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Bill Pay
                      • Events
                      • Contact
                      • analog clock icon
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        4 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      Home/About Us/Newsroom/Why You Need a Primary Care Provider

                      Refine Results

                      About Us
                      Auxiliary
                      Awards & Accreditations
                      Careers
                      Hospital Opportunities
                      Physician and Advanced Practitioner Opportunities
                      Community Benefits
                      Community Support
                      Contact Us
                      Newsroom
                      E-Newsletter Sign Up
                      2024 News Releases
                      2023 News Releases
                      2022 News Releases
                      2021 News Releases
                      2020 News Releases
                      2019 News Releases
                      2018 News Releases
                      2017 News Releases
                      2016 News Releases
                      2015 News Releases
                      Quality & Safety
                      ADA Accessibility Policy
                      Diversity Policy
                      Joint Commission Notice
                      Notice of Privacy Practices
                      Organized Health Care Arrangement Status
                      Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      Privacy Policy
                      Safety Improvement
                      Terms & Conditions
                      Volunteer Opportunities
                      eNewsletter Redirect
                      Events
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Services
                      • information
                      • news
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • Beat the Heat and Stay Healthy During Summer’s Warmest Months

                        06.26.2025

                      • Northwest Health – La Porte Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

                        06.24.2025

                      • See All News & Press Releases
                      • Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                        Learn More
                      • Mobile Device

                        Online Scheduling

                        Free, convenient online check-in services.

                        Learn More
                      • Nurse and Patient

                        Patient Portal

                        Access your medical information
                        on demand.

                        Learn More

                      Why You Need a Primary Care Provider

                      4/27/2021

                      Imagine this scenario: One summer, Mary feels irritable and anxious much of the time. She thinks she is having panic attacks, so she visits a counselor. The next winter, she goes to the emergency department for heart palpitations. The following spring, she notices that her periods have become irregular, so she consults her gynecologist.

                      After many months, she learns that an overactive thyroid was causing her symptoms. However, no single provider had every piece of the puzzle, so it took her a long time to get an accurate diagnosis. A primary care provider (PCP) — a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner who cares for overall health — would likely have been able to diagnose the cause of her symptoms much sooner.

                      It’s important to develop a relationship with a PCP who gets to know you and your medical conditions over time. We refer to this relationship with a PCP as your “medical home”.

                      Specialists, urgent care providers and emergency room doctors are experienced in their area of medicine; however, they do not usually know you and your health history like your PCP will.

                      In addition to seeing the “big picture” of your health, a PCP can:

                      1. Maintain your comprehensive medical record, including medications, vaccinations and allergies
                      2. Understand your family health history and how it relates to any conditions you have
                      3. Track your screenings and immunizations to make sure you’re up to date
                      4. Coordinate specialist care and multiple diagnoses
                      5. Provide counseling about wellness, nutrition and healthy lifestyles

                      Which provider is best for you?

                      • A family medicine doctor gives general medical care to people of every age. He or she forms ongoing relationships with patients and makes referrals to specialists when necessary.
                      • A geriatrician provides medical care for elderly people and has expert knowledge of many conditions older adults experience
                      • .A gynecologist cares for women’s health and may also offer general medical care to female patients.
                      • A family nurse practitioner (or FNP), like a family medicine doctor, offers comprehensive care for patients of all ages.
                      • An internal medicine doctor provides general medical care for patients with complex or chronic conditions.
                      • A pediatrician offers general medical care for infants, children and adolescents.

                      To find a primary care provider near you visit NWMedicalGroup.com.

                      This wellness information is provided by your friends at Northwest Health.

                      Back

                      Northwest Health - Starke

                      • 102 E Culver Rd
                      • Knox, IN 46534
                      • P: (574) 772-6231
                      • F: 574-772-5948

                      • ADA Accessibility Policy
                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Change Your Privacy Choices
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      • Price Transparency

                      Copyright ©2025. All rights reserved.

                      An AllianceHealth Oklahoma® hospital

                      Services

                      • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
                      • Diabetes Care
                      • Diagnostic Imaging
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Laboratory Services
                      • Respiratory Care
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Urgent Care
                      • Wellness & Rehabilitation

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • Award Nominations
                      • Directions
                      • Events
                      • Financial Information
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Request Medical Records

                      About Us

                      • Auxiliary
                      • Awards & Accreditations
                      • Careers
                      • Community Benefits
                      • Community Support
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Quality & Safety
                      • Volunteer Opportunities

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá,
                      • עִברִית
                      Loading... Loading...