What Is a Family Practice Doctor?

Caring for your health is one of the most important things you can do in your life. But when it comes time to choose a new primary care physician, it can be tough to know where to turn. A family practice doctor may be the best choice, but what is a family practice doctor? Read on to learn more.

What Is a Family Practice Doctor?

You don’t have to have children to visit a family practice doctor. This title simply means that the doctor in question sees and treats people of all ages. In most cases, your primary care physician will almost always be a family practice physician. Labeled as generalists by most of the medical community, these professionals treat chronic conditions, evaluate patient symptoms, and determine when it’s time for patients to see a specialist for further medical treatment. If you’re going to a family practice center for your primary medical care needs, then you’re likely seeing a family practice doctor there.

What Does a Family Practice Doctor Do?

As we mentioned above, family practice doctors can treat a wide variety of conditions for their patients. Some of the other duties a family practice doctor performs include:

• Routine checkups
• Well-child and well-baby visits
• Health risk assessments
• Immunizations
• Screening tests
• Treatment for common chronic conditions
• Lifestyle counseling

As you can see, a family practice doctor really does almost everything right in their own practice. Considering that almost two-thirds of Americans are struggling with their weight, seeing a family practice doctor for lifestyle counseling is a great option. It’s also possible for family practice doctors to specialize in things like sports medicine, public health, and emergency care. These specialties are great to ask about when you’re searching for a doctor. If you’re an athletic person, a family practice doctor who specializes in sports medicine may be an excellent choice for your health needs.

Why Should You See a Family Practice Doctor?

A family practice doctor is a great choice for your primary care physician. Family medicine doctors can monitor and treat common chronic illnesses, prescribe medications, and offer referrals to medical specialists. If you’re looking for all-around care and expertise, then a family practice doctor is going to be an excellent resource for you. It’s also possible that your insurance will require you to get a referral from a physician before you see a specialist. A family practice doctor can provide you with exactly that.

If you’re looking for a new primary care physician and find yourself asking questions like “What is a family practice doctor?” then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Peace Medical.