Montage Health primary care doctor Jon-Peter Meckel, DO
You wake up with a fever and pounding headache. Or maybe you’ve had a nagging pain that just won’t go away. It’s uncomfortable and concerning. But is it urgent enough for the emergency department?
If it’s not life- or limb-threatening, your best first move isn’t the emergency department, and it definitely isn’t Google — it’s calling your primary care provider (PCP).
“Your PCP is more than just someone you see for annual checkups,” says Jon-Peter Meckel, DO, a primary care doctor with Montage Health. “We’re your gateway to a whole spectrum of care. We know your medical history, medications, allergies. And that insight helps us guide you to the right level of care quickly and safely.”
The power of primary care
When you’ve got an established, consistent relationship with your PCP, we can pick up on the small stuff before it becomes the big stuff.
— Jon-Peter Meckel, DO, primary care, Montage Health
Think of your PCP as your healthcare GPS, helping you navigate your care options and avoid a detour to the emergency department. They might steer you to:
- Your primary care office: Your symptoms can often be treated quickly with a same-day or next-day appointment
- 24/7 eVisit: Complete an online symptom questionnaire and get a prescription, referral, or guidance on next steps
- Urgent care: For care that requires an in-person visit like minor sprains, fractures, cuts, or physical examinations
- Emergency department or 911: When your illness or injury is life- or limb-threatening, like chest pain, stroke, or major trauma
Getting the right level of care is also good for your wallet. Your insurance co-pay at an emergency department might be a few hundred dollars compared to $20 or $30 at your PCP’s office.
While your PCP may be able to treat that sinus infection without a trip to the emergency department, the real power of primary care lies in the ongoing relationship that helps your provider connect the dots to paint a comprehensive picture of your health.
“When you’ve got an established, consistent relationship with your PCP,” Meckel says, “we can pick up on the small stuff before it becomes the big stuff.”
A new way to keep patients out of the emergency department
When a patient’s condition is too serious for a regular primary care visit but not quite emergency-level, a recent addition to Montage Medical Group’s arsenal of care options, called primary acute care (PAC), fills the gap.
PAC provides care like IV fluids, imaging, lab work, and other higher-level services, all within the primary care office.
“Primary acute care enables us to treat your symptoms in a primary care setting and coordinate additional testing,” says Dotty Parker, Montage Medical Group’s director of clinical quality.
Parker, a registered nurse who spent 10 years in the emergency department at Montage Health’s Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, says PAC also helps ease crowding in the emergency department and maintains continuity of care between patients and their primary care team.
“PAC helps to keep you connected to the care team that knows you best,” Parker says. “That continuity can make a big difference in how quickly and effectively you recover.”
Right care, right place
Next time you’re unsure what to do about an urgent health need, remember: Your doctor’s office is more than just a place to get your blood pressure checked. It’s your first step toward the right care in the right place.
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Your partner in life-long health
Your primary care provider (PCP) is your go-to expert for everyday health and long-term wellness.
Types of primary care
- Family practice: For people of all ages
- Internal medicine: For adults, and especially for chronic (long-term) disease management
- Geriatrics: For seniors and healthy aging support
- Obstetrics and gynecology: Women’s health at every stage, from annual exams to pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause
How your PCP can help
- Preventive care like checkups, physicals, vaccinations, and screenings
- Diagnosing and treating everyday illnesses and injuries and managing chronic conditions
- Referrals for specialists, screenings, and diagnostic tests and imaging
- Guidance on healthy habits, general wellness, and assistance navigating the healthcare system
