Organization of Primary Health Care
Primary health care services are provided on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., excluding public holidays.
They can be provided in an outpatient setting (in a clinic), via teleconsultation, or, in medically justified cases, in the patient's home. While away from home, for example, on vacation, on a business trip, or with family, patients have the right to basic healthcare, particularly in the event of a sudden illness or a sudden deterioration in their health.
If the patient has arrived for a temporary stay and presents a valid European Health Insurance Card, he or she can benefit from free services in medically necessary situations.
The scope of Primary Health Care (PHC) services provided
- Family doctor care
- Care of a pediatrician
- Vaccination point
- Treatment room
- Primary Care Nurse Clinic
- Primary Care Midwife Clinic
- Childbirth school
Before you go to your family doctor
- Prepare and take with you a document with a photo and PESEL number
Always take your ID with you when you go to the doctor, even if the medical visit concerns a child.
- The registration officer will verify your entitlement to benefits
eWUŚ is a system for Electronic Verification of Beneficiary Entitlements, in which the Registration Employee will check, based on the PESEL number, whether eWUŚ confirms your entitlement to benefits on a given day.
If the system does not confirm your entitlement to benefits and you are an insured/entitled person, you can submit a declaration or present a document confirming your registration for insurance/payment of the premium.
- Consider what symptoms
Your family doctor will ask you about your symptoms. Before you go to the doctor, consider whether you have a fever: how long it has been present and what it is like on any given day; whether you have a sore throat, a runny nose, a cough, feel weak, sweat excessively, have eye pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Browse your home medicine cabinet
Check if any medications left over from your previous treatment have expired. They may be useful in cases of colds, viral infections, or strep throat.
- Recall or write down what medications you are currently taking
Your family doctor needs to know about all the medications you're taking to avoid combining medications that shouldn't be taken together. Combining certain medications can be harmful or even dangerous to your health.
- Take your test results with you
If possible, show the doctor all the results of recent tests, consultations, and hospital discharge papers. This also applies to your child if you are with them at the family doctor's appointment. Also bring your child's health record booklet with you.
- If necessary, your doctor will put you on an oncology fast track
The fast-track oncology program aims to detect cancer early and effectively treat it. If a patient is suspected of having cancer, their family doctor will issue a DiLO (Oncological Diagnosis and Treatment) card.
- Prepare for your visit to make it go smoothly
Don't take up your doctor's time with irrelevant information. Remember that there are other patients waiting for your appointment.
- Take advantage of preventive examinations
Early detection of diseases gives you a chance for effective treatment. Live a long and healthy life by regularly undergoing preventive screenings, such as cardiovascular disease prevention, colon cancer prevention, mammography, and cytology.
- Monitor your health
It's important to monitor your health daily. If you have your blood pressure checked, record the dates, times, and results of these measurements, as well as any other observations. Share them with your doctor.
- The doctor may conduct a home visit to the patient
In exceptional circumstances, a doctor's visit may take place at the patient's home, but only if the doctor deems it medically necessary. If a fever develops, try to lower the temperature and then go to the clinic yourself.
- Have the address and phone number of the nearest night and holiday healthcare facility at hand
Information about clinics open at night and on public holidays can be found on the information board in the clinic, as well as in the "Night and public holiday health care" tab.
