At a primary care clinic, patients will be able to receive primary care only. This means they won’t be able to receive emergency care (only the emergency room can provide this) or secondary care (only specialists can provide this level of care). When a patient needs secondary care, it’s simply because they have a health condition that requires the professional expertise of a specialist. For instance, a patient with a drug addiction might need to see an addiction psychiatrist, or a patient with a heart issue might need to see a heart surgeon. These specialists will be able to provide secondary care that a primary care physician cannot provide. However, a primary care physician is able to provide you with the referral you’ll need if you require the expertise of a specialist.