Primary Care in South Carolina

A primary care provider manages your everyday and ongoing health care. That includes annual checkups and physicals, vaccines, preventive screenings, treatment for common illnesses, and management of long-term conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Your primary care provider also coordinates your care with specialists, manages your prescriptions, and keeps a complete record of your health history.

Use the provider directory at getcare.muschealth.org and filter for primary care providers accepting new patients, or use the provider list on this page. You can filter by location, specialty, and whether the provider offers telehealth visits. You do not need a referral to establish care with an MUSC Health primary care provider.

It depends on your insurance plan, not on MUSC Health. Many plans, including most HMO plans and some Medicare Advantage plans, require a referral before they will cover a specialist visit. PPO plans usually do not. If you need a referral, your MUSC Health primary care provider can evaluate your symptoms, identify the right specialist, place the referral, and send your records ahead.

MUSC Health accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Coverage, copays, and referral requirements vary by plan, so confirm your benefits with your insurance company before your visit. Self-pay options are available, and MUSC Health offers financial assistance if you need help with the cost of care.

Most adults should see a primary care provider at least once a year for a checkup, even when they feel well. Annual visits are when providers screen for conditions that have no early symptoms, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and prediabetes, and when they update vaccines and order age-appropriate screenings. If you are managing an ongoing condition such as diabetes or heart disease, your provider will likely want to see you more often — commonly every three to six months.

Family medicine providers care for patients of all ages, from newborns through older adults, which means one practice can care for an entire household. Internal medicine providers care for adults only and train specifically in the diagnosis and management of adult conditions, which can be an advantage if you are managing more than one chronic condition. Both provide full primary care.

A primary care provider treats the whole person and handles the majority of your health needs over time — prevention, everyday illness, and ongoing conditions. A specialist focuses on one part of the body or one category of disease and usually becomes involved for a specific problem. Your primary care provider decides when a specialist is needed, makes the referral, and continues to manage your overall care.

You can switch primary care providers at any time. Find a provider who is accepting new patients, schedule a new-patient appointment, and let the practice know you are transferring care. If your current provider is also part of MUSC Health, no records transfer is needed — your history follows you automatically. If you are coming from outside MUSC Health, complete a records release.

Ask your new MUSC Health practice for a records release form, or complete a medical records request. Your previous provider’s office sends your records to your new MUSC Health provider. If you are moving between MUSC Health primary care providers, no transfer is needed.

A Patient-Centered Medical Home is a national certification for primary care practices that deliver team-based, coordinated care. In a certified practice, your care is managed by a team rather than by one person working alone, and the practice is accountable for tracking your preventive care, following up on tests and referrals, and coordinating with any specialists you see. Many MUSC Health primary care practices hold this certification.

Many MUSC Health primary care practices hold same-day appointments for established patients with new or worsening symptoms. Call your provider’s office first thing in the morning, or request an appointment through MyChart. If a same-day appointment is not available, MUSC Health offers virtual urgent care and in-person urgent care locations. For any life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Yes. MUSC Health offers virtual primary care — video visits with a primary care provider who manages your ongoing care, not a one-time urgent care visit. It works well for preventive visits, managing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and behavioral health support. Your virtual visits go into the same medical record as your in-person care. Some needs still require an in-person visit.

Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of all medications you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements with their doses. Also bring the names of any specialists you see, records of recent tests done outside MUSC Health, your family health history, and a list of questions. Arrive about 15 minutes early, or complete paperwork in advance through MyChart.