Primary Care Doctor
A primary care doctor is a general practitioner or old-fashioned family doctor (1). They are trained to take care of the entire patient and treat common health problems. When a patient's disease requires treatment beyond the primary care doctor's training, he or she can refer the patient to a specialist-a good starting point when entering the confusing world of health care (1).
A primary care doctor is a patient's best source of preventive health care (1), such as cancer screening or routine maintenance for long-term problems, such as asbestosis (2). These doctors can provide yearly vaccinations against flu or pneumonia, treat any respiratory infections that get through those defenses, and help a patient to quit smoking (2), and they can usually provide these services at a lower cost than going to a specialist.
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It's important for primary care doctors to understand asbestos-related diseases and the long-term dangers they pose for their patients. They should realize how dangerous respiratory infections can be for a patient who already has trouble breathing, and that these infections must be treated immediately and aggressively (2).
Primary care doctors must watch their asbestosis patients closely for signs of cancer (3). They should apply the tests necessary to monitor their patients' condition, such as chest x-rays and pulmonary function testing every three to five years (3), and they should be willing to treat their patients' symptoms with such remedies as pulmonary therapy or drugs to assist their breathing.