It’s definitely a good idea to have a primary care physician for yourself, and your family too. This is because this kind of physician can provide you with the most fundamental kind of healthcare: primary care. This kind of care is general, first-level healthcare for the most common health conditions and even some chronic health conditions. The prevention of these conditions is another responsibility of a primary care physician, so he or she can help you prevent health issues from occurring in the first place. On top of that, a primary care physician can refer you to a specialist if you need to see one, which is especially important for patients with more serious or chronic conditions like diabetes or dementia. And if you need to see multiple doctors and specialists, the physician can create and be at the center of a network between them all! As for how often to see a primary care doctor, once every 6 months is recommended. A simple checkup is all that’s necessary, usually. For patients with a chronic condition, more frequent visits might be necessary. You can ask your physician how often he or she would recommend you go in for a visit. You may also want to ask how often your children or elderly family members should go in, and this might be more frequently, depending on their age and health needs.