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Virtual Care

Primary Care

Find a primary care doctor in San Diego convenient for you

Physician performing an ear examination, with a face mask, on a patient also wearing a mask.

Dr. Richard Petyn, Internal Medicine, Scripps Coastal Medical Center

Find a primary care doctor in San Diego convenient for you

For more than 100 years Scripps has been the health system that San Diego turns to for excellence in health care, and still is today. Finding the Scripps primary care physician in San Diego who is right for you and your family has never been easier. We have hundreds of primary care physicians for your entire family including internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. Scripps doctors accept most health plans. With locations throughout San Diego County, Scripps is here for you.

Family medicine

A nurse checking-in a patient at a desk with a face mask on.

Family medicine

Internal medicine

Richard Petyn, MD, Internal Medicine, Scripps Coastal Medical Center.

Internal medicine

Pediatrics

A physican performing a wellness check-up on a young girl who is wearing a unicorn printed face mask.

Pediatrics

Primary care at Scripps

Generations of San Diegans have relied on Scripps for excellence in health care, starting with the primary care doctors who act as your personal health advocate. Finding the right primary care doctor for you and your family is the first step toward optimizing your health and well-being. Scripps primary care physicians provide comprehensive and compassionate care, focusing on preventive care and wellness. For your convenience, our doctors offer several options for ongoing care, including extended office hours, telemedicine options, three urgent care centers and HealthExpress walk-in clinics throughout the county for same-day treatment of minor illnesses and injuries.


Staying within your health care system for all your needs isn’t just convenient, it’s also critical when faced with the unexpected. Scripps is here for good, with personalized care, a vast network of primary care doctors, specialists and state-of-the-art facilities. When you choose a Scripps primary care physician, you may also have access to nationally renowned specialty care and award-winning hospitals and programs. Ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, Scripps offers primary and specialty care focused on you, our patient.

What is primary care?

Primary care physicians focus on preventive medicine and care for a wide range of conditions and diseases. If you need specialized care, your primary care doctor can refer you to a specialist and coordinate your care. 


Your relationship with your primary care physician is an important one that can span decades. Your primary care physician is the doctor you will visit for most medical needs, including routine screenings and annual check-ups, as well as non-emergency illnesses, such as ear infections and viruses. Primary care doctors also help manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. 


If you have an HMO or a managed health care plan, your primary care physician will be the doctor who refers you to a specialist, if needed. You will need to choose a primary care physician when you enroll in an HMO or managed health care plan.

Where can I get primary care at Scripps?

Scripps offers more care in more places, with more than 20 primary care offices located throughout San Diego County from North County to South Bay. Scripps has multilingual physicians and staff at most locations, so choosing the primary care physician who’s right for you has never been easier. When you choose a Scripps primary care doctor, you also have access to nationally renowned specialists and hospital care. 


From Chula Vista and La Jolla to Encinitas and Oceanside, our extensive network includes:


Why is primary care important?

Choosing a primary care physician is an important first step in managing your health care. Family medicine physicians, internal medicine physicians and pediatricians are all considered primary care physicians, but there are some differences.



It is important to have a primary care physician because they act as your personal physician. They are also the first doctor you see for any health problem you may experience. As the quarterback for your health care, they help you get and stay healthy, and they’ll coordinate any specialty care you might need. If you’re considering an HMO or managed health care plan, you’ll need to choose a primary care physician as part of your enrollment.

How do I find a primary care physician?

To help you choose the best primary care physician for you and your family, check our Doctor Finder. Whether you’re looking for a physician who speaks a certain language or has specific expertise in nutrition, women’s health or sports medicine, our Doctor Finder can help.


The Doctor Finder tool can be used to search for a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant by name, specialty, hospital affiliation, gender, language and practice location. Many of our physicians have videos online to help you get to know them.


Find a doctor

How can I get more help?

Our physician referral specialists can be reached at 800-727-4777 Monday through Friday, 7am to 7pm for more information about our doctors, services and classes.


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