Sponsored Content

Why your primary care clinician is your most valuable health asset

Published 1:07 pm Monday, April 6, 2026

Providence Medical Group is welcoming new patients across Snohomish County and beyond

When something goes wrong with your health, the instinct is to deal with it in the moment – through urgent care, walk-in clinics or a visit to the emergency room.

Primary care practitioners in Snohomish County are encouraging residents to shift that approach: staying ahead of the crisis, and focusing on primary and preventive care for every stage of life.

“Your primary care clinician should be the anchor of your health care,” says Dr. Kristy Thompson, a family medicine physician with Providence Medical Group. “They have the capacity and the training to look after your health through the lens of longevity and a whole-health approach.”

Thompson has been practicing family medicine with Providence since 2019. Her patient panel spans every stage of life – from newborns to end-of-life care – and her scope goes well beyond physical health. 

“We want to encourage people to think along the lines of preventive care and health maintenance versus reactive health care.”

A primary care clinician, she explains, takes into account a patient’s social situation, financial and transportation limitations, and mental health alongside their physical wellbeing.

That breadth is what makes the relationship so valuable. 

When a patient invests in a long-term primary care connection, their clinician can catch diseases early, coordinate referrals to specialists and serve as an advocate when navigating complex care. 

“It’s like any relationship,” Thompson says. “You have to invest in it – but the outcome is worth the effort.”

That means showing up for well visits, taking part in preventive screenings and finding a primary care clinician before your health demands urgency. 

As the region’s population grows and access to specialty care becomes more stretched, Thompson says the role of the primary care clinician becomes even more critical – keeping patients out of the emergency room and out of walk-in clinics by staying ahead of health concerns.

“We want to encourage people to think along the lines of preventive care and health maintenance versus reactive health care,” she says.

Providence Medical Group clinics across Snohomish County are currently welcoming new primary care patients, including locations in Everett, Harbour Pointe, Marysville, Monroe and Snohomish.

Appointments are available online and by phone, with early morning and evening hours offered at several locations to accommodate busy schedules. Virtual visits are also available. 

To find a primary care physician  or schedule a new patient appointment, call 425-258-7335 or visit providence.org/services/providence-medical-group-washington.

Find them on Facebook @/ProvidenceSwedishNorth