Why You Need a Primary Care Provider
Primary care providers can take care of most of your health care needs. Once you’re our patient, your family doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant will make sure you get the right care at the right time and manage long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute) health needs. They’ll help you stay healthy by giving you regular checkups and screenings to help prevent or treat diseases. They can also address non-emergency issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, reproductive health, nutrition, sleep problems, stress, and minor illnesses and injuries. Importantly, the providers at Natividad will get to know you and understand your health needs. They’ll develop personalized treatment so you know what to do to stay healthy or improve your health.

Primary Care vs. Urgent & Emergency Care

Your primary care provider should be the first person you visit for your long-term and preventive health needs. They can see you when you get sick and help you get appointments with specialists if needed. Urgent care is for non-life-threatening problems that must be typically taken care of within 24 hours. If you have a life-threatening problem or severe injury or illness, you should go to the emergency room or call 911.

How to Establish Care

We’re excited that we now have several expert providers on staff so that we can get you in quickly!

• Before making an appointment, check if Natividad Medical Group Prunedale is covered by, or “in-network” with, your insurance. If you need help with this, call (831) 663-3926.
• You should also find out what your insurance covers and how much you’ll pay for a visit. Most insurances require a small
  co-pay at the time of the visit.
• Call (831) 663-3926 to schedule an appointment as a new patient.
• Once you start seeing our provider, you’ll come back once a year for a checkup.
• If you have ongoing health issues or need help with your lifestyle, your provider will schedule regular follow-up visits. You can also make extra appointments if you have urgent health problems.
• You’ll also have access to Natividad and its full array of services and specialists (See Our Services).