In American healthcare, your PCP is your primary care physician: the doctor you go to first when you are ill. That doctor may treat you, or may send you on to a specialist who deals with one part of the body.

In American healthcare在美國的醫療體系裡, your PCP is your primary care physicianPCP 指的是你的「基層照護醫師」: the doctor you go to first when you are ill也就是你生病時第一個去看的醫生。That doctor may treat you這位醫生可能會直接治療你, or may send you on to a specialist或把你轉介給專科醫師 who deals with one part of the body專門處理身體某一個部位的醫生。

US insurance often wants you to name a PCP, and sometimes you need that doctor’s say-so before you see a specialist. It is paperwork English as much as medical English.

US insurance often wants you to name a PCP美國的保險通常會要求你指定一位 PCP, and sometimes you need that doctor's say-so而且有時候你需要這位醫生的同意 before you see a specialist才能去看專科醫師。It is paperwork English as much as medical English這個詞與其說是醫學用語，不如說是保險文件上的用語。

Though actually, PCP can also mean primary care provider, which may be a nurse practitioner, not only a physician — the form is stretching the letters.

Though actually不過其實, PCP can also mean primary care providerPCP 也可以指「基層照護提供者」, which may be a nurse practitioner, not only a physician可能是執業護理師，不一定是醫師 — the form is stretching the letters這種用法算是把這幾個字母的意思拉寬了。

In Taiwan you can often book a specialist more directly under 健保, so this “gatekeeper doctor” is an American role. And sadly the same letters also name a dangerous drug; that is a different PCP entirely.

In Taiwan you can often book a specialist more directly under 健保在台灣健保底下你通常可以比較直接掛專科, so this "gatekeeper doctor" is an American role所以這種「守門醫師」的角色是美國特有的。And sadly the same letters also name a dangerous drug而很不巧同樣這幾個字母也是一種危險毒品的名稱; that is a different PCP entirely那是完全不同的另一個 PCP。