A family doctor is a specially-trained physician that takes care of a whole family. Although most types of doctors can only attend to specific medical field or disease, family doctors are trained to handle all forms of medicines and diseases. They care for you and your family through all the stages of life.
The services rendered by a family doctor include but are not limited to the physical, mental and emotional health of your family. The family doctor gets to know their patients and build a relationship with them. They build a strong caring and strong relationship with your family. This helps them to serve you better.
Your family doctor is in charge of diagnosing and treating both acute and chronic health challenges. They also offer routine medical checkups and counseling on lifestyle changes to support better health. This preventive counseling help to prevent health issues before they develop. If the situation requires care from a specialist, your family doctor involves the necessary specialists and orders appropriate testing while monitoring every aspect of your care. Moreover, you and your family doctor will work together to achieve the best possible outcome at a reasonable cost.
Every family should have a family doctor even if they don’t have any current health concerns. Family doctors are trained in preventive medicine. Of course, preventive health care is better than curative medical care. Your family doctor can keep you and your family healthy.
Family doctors are trained to handle most medical cases including:
Finding a competent family doctor is not difficult. In fact, there are several ways to start looking for one. First, you can ask your family and friends for recommendations. You can also check with your insurance carrier to find the doctors close to home.
Once you have found a few doctors to consider, call or visit their offices to get further information. Some of the things you should look for include:
It takes time to build and establish a solid relationship with your doctor. In the beginning, your family doctor will ask background information about your family members, such as health history, lifestyle, and medical history.
Family doctors are vastly experienced in most treatments and technologies. They undergo 3 years of real-life training and are trained to handle all forms of medical conditions and treat patients in the office, hospital or at home. They also educate themselves on the current trends and technologies. Thus, they are aware of the latest medical advancements for effective diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, family doctors are regulated by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), which mandates that all family doctors revalidate their certificate every 7 to 10 years. Family doctors are also required to complete at least 6 days of continuing medical education every three years.
They also have the support of several national medical associations including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The AAFP offers high-quality learning opportunities for family doctors and supports patient educational materials.
Hired a family doctor? Congratulations! So, how often should you see your family doctor? Generally, you and your family should see your doctor at least once a year, and whenever you are not feeling well. During the annual visit, your family doctor will conduct a physical exam, and update your medical history by asking questions. They will be happy to answer your questions too.
Generally, families with a family doctor enjoy better overall health, live longer, and have lower healthcare costs.
If you have any questions, please give us a call or make an appointment using our Appointment request form.
