Family practice offers comprehensive health care for the entire family, from children to geriatric patients. Family practice physicians receive extensive training in the continuous care of people of all ages and must undergo continuing education and receive board certification in family medicine every seven years.
The scope of family practice is broad, providing a multitude of health services.
Pediatric Care
Family practice physicians offer pediatric services, including well-baby visits, to monitor the growth and development of children and to provide immunizations. They also treat common illnesses in children and monitor and treat chronic conditions.
Essentially, they offer all the general services that a pediatrician offers.
Geriatric Medicine
For older patients, family practice physicians can provide health assessments and treatment for age-related conditions or other chronic conditions. They can also help to manage the patient’s medications, adjusting dosages or prescribing new medications. Additionally, they can coordinate comprehensive care with any specialists that may be necessary.
Women’s Health
Family practices provide women’s health services, including annual exams, pap smears, and breast exams. They can prescribe contraception and offer pre-natal and post-natal care. Some family practice physicians can even deliver babies. They also offer women’s health screening services such as mammograms.
General Services
Family practice physicians also offer general services for the whole family.
Annual Physicals
Annual physicals are important in detecting medical issues and recommending lifestyle changes that can improve the health of the patient. In an annual physical, your family practice physician will check your vital signs, including your blood pressure and heart rate, do a series of blood tests based on your age and medical history, and potentially perform routine heart and lung tests. An annual physical is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about symptoms you may be having or about medications that you take.
Common Illness Treatment
A family practice provider can treat common illnesses such as a cold, the flu, a stomach virus, and many more. Because they are a comprehensive care provider, they can offer treatment and medications that are appropriate for you based on your medical history, any medical conditions that you have, and medications that you currently take.
Preventive Health Services
Preventive health care is critical in helping you to avoid serious illness. Your family practice provider can provide regular screening for conditions for which you are at risk, provide vaccinations, and identify any health risks that you have based on your history and current health status. They can also offer lifestyle advice to help you avoid these risks.
Management of Chronic Conditions
Your family practice physician can help you to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. They will regularly monitor your condition, adjust your treatment and medication as necessary, and educate you about new developments related to your condition, such as new available medications or treatment options. They will also coordinate your care with any specialists that are involved in treating your condition.
Minor Procedures
A family medicine physician can perform minor procedures and surgeries, including wound care and stitches, mole or cyst removal, and biopsies. Some can insert IUDs or handle other types of contraception like tubal ligation. The extent of procedures that can be performed depends on the physician’s training. If a procedure is beyond their scope, they will coordinate your care with an appropriate surgeon.
Referrals to Specialists
Your family care physician can refer you to specialists in your area when necessary, such as a cardiologist, dermatologist, or gastroenterologist. They will share your medical history with the specialist and coordinate your care. Your family care provider will be informed of your treatment by the specialist so that the provider can assist with ongoing care and management of any conditions that you have.
Benefits of Family Practice
Family practice has many benefits for you and your family.
- They provide comprehensive care for the entire family and are essentially a one-stop shop for all of your family’s health needs. They will have information on your family’s health history and condition, which helps them to offer more personalized treatment. Over time, your family will develop a close and trusting relationship with your provider.
- Family practices focus on preventive care, which will keep your family healthier. Because they can offer health screenings as well as annual checkups, they can detect issues earlier, which is critical to the outcome of many conditions.
- Family practice providers have comprehensive knowledge and training, which gives them the ability to better diagnose and treat more conditions. This knowledge also helps them to offer better preventive care and early detection of disease.
- Because a family practice provider knows so much about the health and history of your entire family, they are better able to coordinate your care with the right specialists. This gives you a more comprehensive and effective health care experience.
In Closing
Family practice is dedicated to the health care of the entire family, from preventive care, to the treatment of minor illnesses, to the management of chronic conditions, and the coordination of care for more serious health issues. Your family can build strong relationships with your family practice provider, which can last a lifetime.
Health Service Alliance is a family practice provider and can be your family’s partner in health care. We offer treatment regardless of your ability to pay. Give us a call today to get your family on the path to a healthier future.