Primary Care for Patients Age 6 and Older

Having an established primary care provider gives you a consistent place to turn for routine healthcare, new symptoms and ongoing medical needs.

EM Healthcare & Associates welcomes patients age 6 and older, including adolescents, adults, older adults and veterans. Care is designed to support your health through different stages of life while helping you understand your conditions, medications, test results and treatment options.

Primary care services may include:

• Preventive and routine wellness visits
• Evaluation of new symptoms
• Chronic-condition care
• Labs and blood testing
• Medication management
• Health screenings
• Referrals to specialists
• Follow-up after urgent care, hospital or specialist visits
• In-person and telehealth appointments

Preventive Visits and Routine Health Screenings

Preventive care can identify potential health concerns before they become more difficult to manage. Your recommended services will depend on your age, medical history, family history, medications and individual risk factors.

A preventive visit may include:

• Review of your medical and family history
• Blood pressure and vital-sign checks
• Age-appropriate health screenings
• Review of recommended laboratory testing
• Medication and supplement review
• Discussion of nutrition, activity, sleep and other health habits
• Immunization review
• Personalized recommendations for follow-up care

Preventive care recommendations are individualized. Not every screening or test is appropriate for every patient.

Chronic-Condition Care

Chronic health conditions often require regular monitoring, medication review, laboratory testing and adjustments to the care plan over time.

Ebony works with patients managing common ongoing concerns such as:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes and prediabetes
• High cholesterol
• Thyroid conditions
• Asthma and other stable respiratory concerns
• Arthritis and chronic musculoskeletal symptoms
• Weight-related health risks
• Multiple medical conditions in older adults

The goal is to help you understand your condition, monitor changes and coordinate the services needed to support your health. Additional testing or referral to a specialist may be recommended when appropriate.

Labs and Blood Testing

Laboratory testing can provide important information about your health and help guide medical decisions. Depending on your symptoms, history and treatment plan, Ebony may order bloodwork or other tests to:

• Screen for common health conditions
• Monitor diabetes, cholesterol or thyroid function
• Evaluate symptoms such as fatigue or unexplained changes
• Monitor medication safety and effectiveness
• Follow changes in an existing condition
• Support preventive-care decisions

Testing is ordered according to medical need. Results are reviewed with you, along with recommended next steps. Some testing may be completed through an outside laboratory based on your insurance plan and the type of test ordered.

Medication Management

Medication management involves more than issuing a prescription. It includes reviewing what you take, why you take it and whether it continues to be appropriate.

Your medication review may include:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter products
• Vitamins and supplements
• Possible side effects
• Potential medication interactions
• Refill needs
• Dosing concerns
• Adherence challenges
• Monitoring requirements

Do not stop or change a prescribed medication without first discussing it with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Referrals and Care Coordination

Some conditions require services beyond the scope of primary care. When needed, Ebony can recommend or coordinate referrals to specialists, imaging centers, laboratories and other healthcare professionals.

Care coordination may also include reviewing outside records, discussing specialist recommendations and helping you understand how different parts of your care plan fit together.

Referral and authorization requirements vary by insurance plan. Patients should confirm applicable requirements with their insurer before receiving outside services.

In-Person and Telehealth Primary Care

Patients may schedule in-person appointments at the Palm Bay office or request a telehealth visit when appropriate.

Telehealth may be useful for selected follow-up appointments, medication discussions, test-result reviews and other concerns that do not require an in-person examination. Some symptoms and conditions require a physical examination, testing or urgent evaluation and cannot be managed safely through telehealth alone.

Telehealth availability depends on the patient’s location, clinical needs and applicable healthcare requirements.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your visit may include:

• A review of your medical history and current concerns
• A discussion of medications, supplements and previous treatment
• An appropriate physical examination
• Review or ordering of laboratory tests
• Recommendations for treatment, monitoring or preventive care
• Referrals when specialty evaluation is needed
• A plan for follow-up

Bring an updated medication list, insurance information, identification and any relevant medical records or recent test results.

Insurance and Scheduling

Billing and insurance are managed through Privia and the Athenahealth electronic medical record system.

Insurance participation and benefits vary by carrier, plan and product. Please contact the clinic or your insurer to confirm network participation, referral requirements, deductibles, copayments and coverage before scheduling.

Appointments may be requested online through Privia or by calling the office.

Frequently Asked Questions