Understanding your needs and goals
Mayo Clinic Primary Care in Arizona uses a team-based model in which you work with your team of healthcare professionals to get exactly the care you need. Your care team works to understand your needs and goals and partners with you to achieve them.
Physicians
Physicians lead the care team. They guide your care, diagnose and treat complex health problems, create plans of care, and support other members of your team.
Primary care doctors have expertise in family medicine and internal medicine. Some of them are in the Mayo Clinic residency program. You may hear them referred to as residents. Residents are medical doctors who have entered the phase of their extensive training that includes caring for patients in clinical practices. Staff physicians partner with and guide the residents who provide your care.
Your physicians also have access to Mayo Clinic's many medical specialists, such as heart doctors (cardiologists) and cancer experts (oncologists).
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
These primary care providers diagnose and treat complex and acute health concerns and work with doctors to identify the best plan of care for you.
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced academic and clinical education at the graduate level. A master's degree in nursing along with specialty education enables nurse practitioners to diagnose and manage many common illnesses, both acute and chronic. Physician assistants are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Each has graduated from an accredited physician assistant program and completes extensive continuing medical education throughout their careers.
Registered nurses
If your doctor or nurse practitioner has designed a customized plan of care for you, a registered nurse will coordinate the plan. Your nurse may:
- Provide education when you're diagnosed with a new condition
- Take your blood pressure
- Conduct some well-child assessments
- Conduct some adult wellness screenings
- Diagnose and offer treatment options for common complaints — often over the phone
Licensed practical nurses, medical assistants and clinical assistants
These providers will prepare you for your appointment, coordinate your preventive screenings and give vaccinations.
Pharmacists
Clinic pharmacists are key members of the care team. They are in close communication with your care team and help you manage medications, identify and resolve safety issues, and make cost-effective decisions.
Social workers
Social workers are trained to assist with a large number of problems, including counseling people on stress-related concerns and connecting them with the right social service.
Appointment line and customer service staff
When you call or request an appointment online, you'll be helped by dedicated employees who try to connect you with the right care team member or service to meet your needs.
Nurse line
The nurse line is a convenient way to access round-the-clock advice, helping you get the right care for your needs, often without ever having to leave your home.
The nurse line offers you:
- Around-the-clock access by calling your primary care provider's office
- Help to quickly determine if your condition can be cared for at home or through a scheduled office visit, or if it requires immediate medical attention
- Prescriptions for some conditions assessed during the phone call, which can be filled at the pharmacy of your choice
Additional specialists
Your primary care team will bring onto the team pharmacists, mental health specialists and other health professionals to support you when needed. Additional experts are available to you through electronic, virtual or in-person consultations organized by your primary care provider. This will help you avoid extra appointments.
The providers you see at an appointment will depend on the needs you have that day. Your team is committed to giving you exactly the care you need, in the most supportive and convenient way possible.