Many medical practitioners focus on a specific organ, disease, or system in the body. However, when you or someone in your family needs a yearly checkup, treatment for an acute illness, or help with general medical concerns, you can benefit from seeing a family medicine practitioner.
Family medicine is a form of general or primary care. Regardless of health or age, everyone should have a primary care physician to address ailments and offer comprehensive care.
There are three main types of primary care physicians: pediatricians, internal medicine doctors, and family medicine doctors.
Pediatricians generally care for children, while internal medicine doctors care for adults. A family medicine doctor combines these two specialties to care for adults and children.
Qualities of family medicine include:
Family medicine doctors take care of single adults as well as families.
Your relationship with your family medicine physician can span decades. As these doctors treat patients from infancy through elder care, the relationship you form with your family medicine practitioner is instrumental to your overall health.
When you search for a family medicine doctor, talk to friends and family in your community about what they like and don’t like about their providers. This step gives you a starting point in determining whether a doctor will meet your needs.
Health care can be costly. Choosing a family medicine health center that is up front and straightforward about pricing and offers flexibility in payment can provide peace of mind and reduce stress over high medical bills. Look into a family care practice that offers transparent pricing or takes your insurance to avoid expensive, unexpected bills.
When you or someone in your family is sick, you don’t want to drive a great distance to receive necessary care. Consider locations and office hours when choosing health centers that meet your needs.
Your health depends on choosing a doctor you can trust. Therefore, meeting your prospective family medicine provider is essential to determine whether you will be comfortable sharing your medical concerns with them and feel confident in following their advice.
You and your family should visit your doctor at least once a year. However, as health emergencies often occur without warning, knowing you have a family healthcare provider you can trust can put your mind at ease.
