Primary Care Services

Having a UPMC primary care provider can provide you with access to:

• Family medicine or internal medicine doctors
• A long-term relationship with your personal doctor
• Hundreds of convenient office locations
• UPMC's network of clinical experts and specialists, quality resources, and state-of-the-art facilities
• A doctor who gets to know you, your lifestyle, and your family history
• Secure online health care records
• Screenings, vaccinations, and physical examinations
• Blood pressure and/or blood sugar checks, and/or cholesterol monitoring

Primary Care includes:

• Family Medicine— providers who treat patients from a young age to seniors. Family medicine doctors may have training in a number of medical disciplines.
• Internal Medicine— providers who typically diagnose and treat diseases in adults. Internal medicine doctors may have subspecialties in specific areas or age groups.

Introducing the Diabetic Retinal Exam

A specially designed, state-of-the-art camera has been installed in select primary care offices* that allows primary care physicians (PCP) to perform a diabetic retinal exam (DRE) that can help identify potential eye and vision problems in patients who are living with diabetes.

If you have diabetes, your blood sugar level may cause changes in the blood vessels of your retina. These changes may lead to bleeding, fluid leakage, or distorted vision. These changes also may lead to diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness in diabetic patients. However, early detection and appropriate follow-up with an ophthalmologist can help protect against vision loss.

Your PCP can refer you for a DRE and then perform the exam—right in the office. Having this specialized camera and trained staff in your PCP office will save time and the inconvenience of scheduling a separate appointment.

This painless exam takes only a few minutes and includes taking pictures of the back of your eyes. Your PCP and staff will review the images and send them to a UPMC specialist for further analysis. Your PCP may follow up with you and if needed, refer you to an ophthalmologist.

It's a good idea to discuss your insurance coverage with office staff prior to your DRE.

For information about a diabetic retinal exam, contact a UPMC primary care doctor's office.

Learn more about Primary Care Services at these UPMC Hospitals:

• UPMC Passavant
• UPMC St. Margaret
• UPMC East
• UPMC McKeesport
• UPMC Northwest
• UPMC Bedford
• UPMC Horizon
• UPMC Hamot
• UPMC Altoona
• UPMC Jameson