Who is a family physician?
Family physicians provide definitive care to the individual from the first appointment and take continuous responsibility throughout their life. They provide comprehensive care for family members of all ages and treat various diseases and body parts. General medicine doctors specialize in adult care, whereas pediatricians care for children and adolescents.
Family physicians treat chronic conditions, analyze symptoms, plan preventive care, and provide guidance to visit a specialist if needed. Preventative care can include lifestyle counseling, mental health care, acute conditions, pain management, or treatment for people with multiple comorbidities. Family medicine is a subspecialty of modern medicine. Family physicians also have a massive role in guiding family decisions regarding medications, treatments, and accessibility to healthcare services. They often work in private office settings or with a group of family physicians. They are also active in community medicine clinics and work in hospital settings.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, regular physician access means lower infant mortality, immunization rates above national averages, healthier and longer lives, higher birth weights, and affordable healthcare expenses. The intersections of passion in medicine and in-depth knowledge of the human body across ages and life cycles make family physicians much more unique.
What kind of healthcare services do family physicians provide?
Family medicine is integrated into primary health care and acts as a tool to reduce the burden on health systems and improve resources at the primary level. Consulting your family doctor can maximize the benefits of improved health results. Some of the other care services they offer are:
- Regular health check-ups
- Baby and child visits, medical check-ups
- Screening tests
Specialists usually treat diseases limited to a particular organ or body part; however, primary care physicians are the only doctors qualified to treat many ailments for all body parts. Some of the common characteristics of a family doctor include:
- Developing and sustaining a trusting relationship with patients regardless of age or health issues
- They understand factors on community levels and social and psychological determinants of health.
- They help their patients navigate the healthcare system, including the ideal treatment, resources, hospital coordination, and regular follow-ups.
- They use data and technology to offer and systemize services and optimize care.
- They are aware of various dynamics and ensure that they address the impact of physical and mental health on a patient's family.
What kind of education and training do family physicians receive?
Aspiring family physicians complete their undergraduate studies and then enroll in a medical school, where they study and train for four years. The first two years of medical school involve learning in classrooms and laboratories. During the following two years, students receive practical training to diagnose and treat illnesses under the guidance of experienced doctors and specialists. They train in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals.
After medical school, students receive a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. They then complete a three to four-year residency with rotations in emergency medicine, obstetrics, inpatient hospital care, general surgery, and pediatrics. Those choosing family medicine as their specialization can get certification from the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) or the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).
All family physicians must clear state-level licensing examinations before they can begin practicing.
Choosing between internal medicine doctors and family physicians
Both internal medicine doctors and family physicians are primary care physicians. It may be challenging to choose between them because both offer similar services, such as diagnosing and treating various conditions and providing guidance to prevent and detect health problems. Both doctors also help to notice early warning signs of diseases. Ultimately, there are different benefits to choosing either of them.
It is possible to become confused because of the word "family" in family medicine doctors. People may think they can consult them only if they have a child. However, that is not the case. The main distinction between the two types of doctors is that internal medicine doctors care for people 18 or above. In contrast, family medicine doctors care for patients of all ages. Moreover, they also provide services for male and female sexual health concerns.
After understanding the differences and benefits of both types of doctors, you can make the best decision for yourself and your family. The most crucial element to consider while deciding your options is the comfort level you have established with the doctor. A great match would be a doctor willing to listen to your needs and relieve some anxiety regarding your concerns.
What are the subspecialties of family medicine?
Physicians have a wide range of subspecialties under family medicine to choose from, such as:
- Adolescent medicine: A family physician specializing in adolescent medicine is a healthcare specialist who functions across multiple disciplines. These physicians receive training that helps them become experts in physical, psychological, and social characteristics unique to adolescents and their health conditions.
- Geriatric medicine: These family physicians have special skills that enable them to diagnose and rehabilitate illnesses experienced by older adults. They know the aging process, and they assist geriatric patients at their homes and offices. They also serve at nursing homes and hospitals.
- Pain medicine: Pain management specialists are family physicians who diagnose and care for patients experiencing acute or chronic pain. They practice at hospitals and in outpatient settings. Their expertise helps them diagnose and treat pain linked to cancer. Pain management specialists work with other specialists to manage the needs of their patients and provide them with sufficient care.
- Sleep medicine: They are the family physicians who focus on diagnosing and treating clinical conditions triggered during sleep. These problems disturb sleep and lead to problems in the sleep cycle. Sleep medicine specialists manage sleep laboratories and know how to conduct polysomnography.
- Sports medicine: This subspecialty of family medicine deals with preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries linked to participation in sports or any physical activity.
- Hospice and palliative medicine: Family physicians who specialize in this specialty provide care to prevent and cure suffering patients with life-limiting illnesses. They also collaborate with the hospice or palliative care team to optimize the quality of their patients' lives.
What should one expect during the first visit to a family doctor near you?
You can visit a family doctor near you for any non-emergency medical issues. Since family doctors treat various illnesses, what you can expect will depend on your problem. For example, if you have a wound, the family doctor will clean and dress it. However, if you have a fever, they might prescribe medication.
However, the doctor will generally check your vital signs, such as your heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature. They will ask you about your symptoms and want to know what medication you are taking. They will ask about your lifestyle and diet habits and any health-related concerns. If they suspect diabetes or fluctuating cholesterol levels, they may ask for related blood tests.
Family physicians maintain medical history records of their patients. They will check your immunization records and administer vaccinations if required. They will give you a neck and head exam and check your skin for abnormalities.
They can provide screenings for women, such as pap smears, mammogram referrals, osteoporosis, and sexual health screenings. Family doctors can provide colorectal exam referrals, aortic aneurysm screenings, and prostate exams for men. These doctors can also evaluate the growth of infants and children through appropriate screenings.
Things to consider when choosing a new family physician near you
Choosing a new family physician may seem like a daunting task at first. However, if you determine your requirements before moving on to the search, you can find the right doctor without much hassle. If you are not sure where to begin, refer to the following step-by-step guide, answer the questions, make notes, and then look for providers that match your preferences:
Step 1: Personal preferences
- Do you prefer individual or group practice?
- Do you need an in-network family doctor?
- Is the provider's location important to you?
- Should you take your private vehicle or choose public transportation?
- Should the provider's office have an elevator and wheelchair accessibility?
Step 2: Provider's background
- Should the family physician be board-certified?
- Do you prefer a provider with additional certifications, professional memberships, and research interests?
- Does the provider's number of years of experience matter to me?
- Should the physician hold expertise in any specific conditions?
- Do you care about the doctor's hospital affiliations?
- Should the provider and their staff speak your language?
- Do you need a female, male, or non-binary family doctor?
Step 3: Provider's office policies
- Will you need a practice that offers urgent or emergency care?
- Do you prefer in-person or virtual care?
- What days of the week are you available to meet the family physician? What about preferred timings?
- Do office policies for cancellations, no-shows, and late arrivals make a difference?
How to look for the best family physician near you in McKinney, Texas?
You might have various concerns about your health and well-being. Getting health check-ups yearly to clarify your doubts is essential. Family physicians can assist you with medical decisions, suggestions, and referrals. If you are worried about which doctor to consult for your health problem, consulting a family doctor near you would be the right step!
Visit the Zocdoc website to find the best-qualified family physicians in McKinney. Enter your symptoms, preferred date and location, and insurance details, and Zocdoc will provide you with a list of the top family physicians nearby. You can filter searches by gender, hospital affiliations, and the languages spoken. You can also use the insurance filter to find those physicians who accept your insurance plan.
What if you do not have insurance coverage? What if you wish to refrain from using insurance while booking appointments? In both cases, you can mention "I'm paying for myself" in the search bar, thus acknowledging that you are ready for out-of-pocket expenses. Afterward, Zocdoc will match you with providers who accept patients without health plans. Do you have any more insurance-related questions? Do not panic; all the details are on our patient help center page.
Every doctor listed on Zocdoc has a unique profile where you can read about their education, qualifications, accreditations, affiliations, awards, areas of expertise, experience, licensure, languages they speak, and gender. You can also view verified reviews and ratings by past patients to make an informed choice when choosing a family physician near you.
You can also book virtual consultations with Zocdoc. Booking appointments on Zocdoc is simple, free, and secure!
Statistics on family physicians in McKinney, Texas
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2021), about 102,930 employed doctors in the United States work in the family medicine specialization. The majority of them practice at physician offices (70,790), followed by general medicine and surgical hospitals (19,360) and outpatient care centers (6,520).
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (2019), around 66% of active physicians from all specialties have a US Doctor of Medicine (US MD) Degree.
There were 22,610 actively licensed primary care physicians in Texas in 2020. The number of physicians actively practicing in Texas has increased by about 13.6% since 2015 and 29% since 2010.
According to the Texas Center for Health Statistics (2020), there were about 7,148 internal medicine specialists, 4,367 pediatrics, 4,283 family practice physicians, 3,423 family medicine physicians, 2,551 obstetrics and gynecologists, and 535 general practice doctors in the state.
Sources
WebMD
American Academy of Family Physicians
Beaumont Health
University of Michigan Library
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Medical University of the Americas
National Institute on Aging
Etactics
