Community Health: The Power of Primary Care

In this episode of The Valley Today Community Health series, host Janet Michael talks with Dr. Kevin Volkema, a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood, about the critical importance of primary care.

From Chicago Suburbs to the Shenandoah Valley

Dr. Kevin Volkema's journey into medicine began with a simple nudge. Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, just outside Chicago, he received encouragement from two unlikely sources during high school: his own primary care physician and his chemistry teacher. Both pulled the 16-year-old aside and suggested he consider a career in medicine.

Initially, Dr. Volkema didn't think much of their advice. However, during his sophomore year at the University of Illinois, he decided to take a leap of faith. He earned his EMT license and began volunteering at a clinic for the uninsured. That experience changed everything.

"I really, really enjoyed that year," Dr. Volkema recalls. "Most importantly, I enjoyed working at that clinic for the uninsured. That's really where the foundation grew of this appreciation for community health and community service and this grassroots effort of making change for individuals."

Today, Dr. Volkema serves as a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood. He splits his time between patient care and his role as regional medical director, bringing both clinical expertise and administrative insight to the growing Winchester community. He moved to the area this past summer with his wife, a neonatologist at Valley Health, after completing a stint in Charlottesville where she finished her fellowship.

The Power of One: Understanding Primary Care's Impact

When most people think of healthcare, they envision dramatic scenes from television—emergency rooms, operating theaters, intensive care units. Yet Dr. Volkema emphasizes that this high-stakes, acute care represents only a fraction of actual healthcare delivery.

"The reality is that's not the majority of health or the majority of healthcare," he explains. Primary care, by contrast, serves as the quarterback, the home base, the front door to the healthcare system.

The statistics backing this claim are remarkable. According to a major study published in JAMA, just one primary care physician for every 10,000 people produces measurable effects: decreased mortality, reduced hospitalization rates, fewer emergency room visits, lower healthcare costs, and improved chronic disease management.

"One person could affect 10,000 lives," Dr. Volkema emphasizes. "That's a pretty huge impact."

More Than Just Availability: The Three A's of Primary Care

Dr. Volkema shares wisdom from one of his mentors, who told him that patients care about three things when choosing a primary care physician: they want someone who is able, affable, and available. Fail on any of these three, and success becomes impossible.

Increasingly, availability has become the biggest challenge. This explains why many people default to urgent care facilities—they're open when patients need them. Nevertheless, urgent care cannot replace the continuity and comprehensive oversight that primary care provides.

Valley Health has recognized this critical need and made substantial investments in primary care infrastructure. The organization has built new clinics, including the Greenwood location where Dr. Volkema practices, remodeled existing facilities, and aggressively recruited physicians to serve the growing community.

Building Relationships That Save Lives

Primary care thrives on continuity. Dr. Volkema particularly enjoys seeing entire families—parents, grandparents, and children—because understanding family dynamics provides crucial context for individual health.

"Who you live with, how you sleep, if you're stressed, if you are eating a healthy diet, if you exercise—those are gonna influence everything," he notes. "But if I don't even understand the basics about who you are as a person or how your life works, how am I supposed to help you with your chronic medical conditions?"

This relationship-building extends beyond physical health. Surprisingly, primary care serves as the largest provider of mental health services in the United States. When people experience depression, anxiety, or grief, they typically turn to their primary care physician first—not because PCPs are psychiatrists, but because patients trust them.

"We've built that relationship. We've put in the effort to develop that connection with them so that when things do arise, they feel comfortable talking with us," Dr. Volkema explains.

The Four Horsemen: Preventing Chronic Disease

Dr. Volkema frames chronic disease management around four pillars, sometimes called "the four horsemen": cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Much of primary care's preventive focus centers on delaying or preventing these conditions from developing.

Through lifestyle modifications and mindful attention to habits, patients can potentially push back diagnoses by a decade or more. Instead of developing a chronic condition at 55, thoughtful prevention might delay onset until 65 or 75.

Importantly, Dr. Volkema stresses that it's never too late to start. Impressive research demonstrates that individuals 65 and older who begin exercise and weightlifting routines show measurable improvements in bone density, muscle mass, metabolic health, and overall function.

"There's never a time that's too late to start," he assures patients of all ages. "It can always make a difference."

Bridging the Gap Between Generalist and Specialist

Primary care physicians sometimes face skepticism about their breadth of knowledge compared to specialists' depth. Dr. Volkema acknowledges this reality while highlighting two significant advantages primary care physicians possess.

First, there's that crucial continuity of care. A specialist may know everything about one body system, but they lack the benefit of a 3-, 5-, or 15-year relationship with the patient. They don't understand the full context of someone's life, medical history, and individual circumstances.

Second, primary care physicians identify and fill gaps in care. When Dr. Volkema sees patients who have only followed with specialists, he consistently discovers concerning omissions: missed cancer screenings, unknown medication interactions, and unassessed common medical conditions.

"It's keeping an eye on all these different facets of an individual's life and an individual's care to make sure that there's not only a hyper fixation on one type of problem or one concern, and that all the other factors are still being addressed as well," he explains.

Practical Access: Getting Care When You Need It

Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood currently employs five providers—three physicians, one physician assistant, and one nurse practitioner. Three additional physicians will join the practice in 2026, with one starting in May and two more in July.

All providers are accepting new patients, dispelling the common misconception that no one is taking new patients in the area. Patients can research providers at valleyhealthlink.com/primarycare or valleyhealthlink.com/findadoctor.

The practice offers same-day appointments for urgent needs, though it's not a walk-in urgent care facility. Patients must call to schedule, but the practice holds multiple same-day slots specifically for this purpose. Additionally, a physician assistant dedicates her entire schedule to same-day patients, providing crucial access for both established and new patients.

The Greenwood location also features a full-service lab open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Any Valley Health patient can have blood drawn there, regardless of which Valley Health physician ordered the tests. This convenience factor has proven particularly valuable for patients who work in different areas than where they live.

When to Seek Care: Earlier Is Better

Dr. Volkema emphasizes the importance of seeking care early in an illness. Treatments for conditions like influenza work most effectively when started soon after symptom onset. Tamiflu, for example, provides maximum benefit when begun early in the disease course—the same principle that applies to COVID antivirals like Paxlovid.

The practice offers same-day testing for strep throat, influenza, and COVID-19, with results available in 15 to 20 minutes. This rapid turnaround helps patients get appropriate treatment quickly, especially important during seasons when multiple viruses circulate simultaneously.

For individuals with complex medical needs who require immediate primary care—perhaps after a hospitalization or recent move to the area—Valley Health operates a transition clinic on Amherst Street near the hospital. This clinic provides bridge care while patients establish with a long-term primary care physician.

The Path Forward

As Winchester's Greenwood area continues its explosive growth—transforming from farmland into a bustling commercial district—Valley Health's investment in primary care infrastructure positions the community for better health outcomes.

Dr. Volkema's message remains clear and hopeful: primary care access exists in the Shenandoah Valley, providers are accepting new patients, and establishing that crucial relationship with a primary care physician represents one of the most impactful health decisions anyone can make.

Whether you're managing chronic conditions, seeking preventive care, or simply need someone who knows your complete health story, the door to primary care stands open. The question isn't whether you can find a primary care physician—it's whether you'll take that first step toward better health.

After all, as the research shows, one physician really can change 10,000 lives. Perhaps it's time to let them change yours.