Family medicine physicians are primary care physicians who focus on the health of individuals, families, and communities. Family medicine physicians provide comprehensive care for patients at every stage of life. They may be called upon to treat many conditions that affect people in all stages of life, including infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
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What is a Family Medicine Physician?
The Family Medicine Physician is a medical doctor who specializes in family medicine. Family medicine is the branch of medicine that practices primary care, which includes preventive care and treatment of common illnesses, as well as most chronic illnesses.
The family physician is also referred to as a primary care physician or general practitioner. They are trained to diagnose and treat patients with common health problems such as colds, flu, menstrual problems, cuts and wounds, minor infections like strep throat, sore throats and ear infections, illnesses of the heart and blood vessels, diabetes, asthma, and other breathing disorders, high blood pressure (hypertension), skin conditions like eczema or acne, vision problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness or presbyopia (difficulty focusing near objects), urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea and syphilis, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety disorder and substance abuse issues like drug addiction or alcoholism.
Why do you need to see a family medicine physician?
When you’re getting ready to move to a new city and searching for a clinic that offer family medicine in fargo, it can be hard to know where to start. You want to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about the latest health care trends, but also one who will take the time to get to know you as an individual.
Here are some common medical reasons that patients visit their family medicine physician:
- They have questions about their own health.
- They need help with chronic conditions or recurring symptoms.
- They have a health issue that requires immediate attention or treatment.
- They are in need of non-emergency medical care or follow-up treatment after an emergency situation has ended
Common medical reasons a patient would visit a family medicine physician include:
Children’s Health
Children’s health is the focus of the practice of family medicine. The primary care of children is an important part of that care. The medical problems of children are more predictable than those of adults, and there are fewer potential life-threatening conditions. For this reason, pediatricians often treat minor illnesses, injuries, and infections as an initial step before referring patients to other specialists. A family medicine physician is trained to care for all of your children, from newborns to teens, and can help you navigate the many health issues that affect them.
Children are more active than adults, so they need more frequent medical care. When you visit a family medicine physician for your child, expect to:
- See your pediatrician for routine well-child visits, including immunizations and growth monitoring
- Have regular checkups with your pediatrician
- Receive flu shots if needed
- Get answers to questions about your child’s development and care
Your family medicine physician will perform physical exams on children, conduct health screenings and provide referrals to other specialists as needed. The pediatrician will also work closely with your child’s primary care provider to monitor their growth and development, as well as any potential underlying conditions that require additional attention from a specialist.
Men’s Health
Family medicine physicians are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of conditions that affect only men and can help patients prevent serious issues from developing. Men have unique concerns and health problems compared to women. Some of the most common issues include:
- Urinary problems, including incontinence and overactive bladder syndrome
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
- Prostate problems such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer
- Sexual health problems, including erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation
- Endocrine disorders, including low testosterone levels and hypogonadism (congenital or acquired)
Women’s Health
Some women have unique medical needs related to pregnancy, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. Family medicine physicians can also treat women who have had a hysterectomy or miscarriage or those who are trying to become pregnant.
Family physicians may also provide care for pregnant women and their newborns. They help educate parents about newborn care and immunizations, including vaccinations for serious diseases such as measles and polio. Family physicians may also perform routine prenatal visits, check for growth and development in the fetus and mother, screen for genetic disorders or other conditions that might affect pregnancy or fetal development, and treat minor illnesses such as UTIs during pregnancy.
General Practice
General practitioners diagnose and treat common conditions such as bronchitis, heartburn, sprains, and skin rashes. They also provide many routine tests, such as blood pressure and urine tests.
General practice doctors are trained to help people with minor problems and ailments that don’t require immediate hospitalization. This includes treating common colds, stomachaches, sore throats, and other minor health issues. They also provide preventive health care services such as counseling on healthy lifestyles, nutrition and weight management, smoking cessation and blood pressure control, immunizations, physical examinations, and disease management for common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and arthritis.
Family Dermatology
Family medicine physicians are general practitioners who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of adults. They also have a strong focus on preventative medicine, which means that they take a holistic approach to health. In addition to physical health issues, family medicine physicians will assess your mental and emotional well-being as well.
If you’re suffering from a skin condition or condition that causes rashes, you should see a family doctor who specializes in dermatology. Family dermatologists can treat common issues such as eczema, psoriasis and acne as well as more serious conditions such as warts and melanoma.
Takeaway
Family medicine physicians also commonly perform preventive care for people at risk for health problems and maintain contacts with their patients over time. In conclusion, there are many uses and benefits of working with a family medicine physician. In fact, you’ll find that they have a wide range of knowledge, skills, and experience. They can be beneficial to have during physical or health care issues. That’s why it’s important to consider bringing one on as soon as you can.
Tiffany is a Medical Student and also works as a fitness coach in part-time. She is also a writer and writes on health and fitness articles. Tiffany loves to engage with users and help them provide various useful information on General Health. She provides researched-based information and also featured on various blogs and magazines.