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What is a family physician?

Family medicine is a medical branch that provides comprehensive and extended healthcare for individuals and their family members. A primary care professional specializing in family medicine is a family physician. Family physicians care for all ages, genders, diseases, and body conditions. Through education and clinical training, they acquire distinct attitudes, skills, and knowledge that qualifies them to provide effective treatment and health care plans. 

Due to their extensive training in multiple medical fields, family physicians remain mindful of how physical conditions affect a person's behavioral, social, and psychological aspects of life. For instance, patients who suffer from chronic muscle pain may also experience mental health issues like irritability and depression. Hence, family physicians work with psychologists or physical therapists to provide holistic treatment. Family doctors also significantly advocate for all health-related concerns, including using consultants, health services, treatment options, and community resources.

Role of a family physician in medical care

Doctors specializing in a particular area, like neurology or cardiology, focus on only one organ or disease. However, a family physician is a specialist qualified to treat various ailments. In their regular practice, some of their primary responsibilities include -

• Understanding private, hospital, and community-level aspects and determinants of health
• Providing regular checkups, including child visits and well-baby tests
• Caring for children and adults and screening for early signs of any health condition 
• Developing trusting and long-lasting relationships with their patients
• Assisting their patients in navigating the health care system, from finding a specialist to hospital care coordination and getting referrals 
• Using advanced medical technology and data to provide optimum healthcare services 
• Understanding the effect of physical health on the patient's family and community members 
• Spreading awareness about healthy lifestyles and habits to improve the quality of life

What do family physicians do?

Family physicians can help you and your family with the following -

• Immunizations - Vaccination, especially for children, is essential to family doctors' duties. They also administer boosters for teenagers and flu shots for adults.
• Screening tests - Family physicians provide a range of screening tests for adults. These include prostate and testicular exams for men, audiometry screening to check for hearing loss, breast and pelvic exams for women, and spirometry tests to assess lung function.
• Treat chronic health conditions - Family physicians offer long-term care for illnesses like diabetes, heart conditions, asthma, kidney disease, etc. They prescribe medicines, monitor your symptoms, and develop treatment plans to manage your symptoms.
• Routine health checkups - You should get annual health checkups from one of the best family medicine doctors near you. They can identify early signs of diseases and prescribe lab tests if required. A routine health checkup includes weight measurement, blood pressure test, heart and lung assessment, and sexual health screening.
• Women's health procedures - Most family physicians receive training in obstetrics and gynecology. They can offer services like IUD (intrauterine device, a birth control method) placement, cancer screening, and monitoring of your fetus's heart rate.
• Pediatric care - Family physicians also cater to various problems infants and children face. These include allergies, rashes, bedwetting, sinus infections, behavioral issues, developmental delays, earaches, chronic cough, constipation, and more.
• Geriatric care - Adults above the age of 65 need special medical assistance. Some health concerns unique to them are dementia, cognitive impairment, balance and coordination issues, gait disorder, depression, anxiety, osteoarthritis, and high blood pressure. Family physicians can provide them with supportive care for all these concerns.

Education and training of a family physician near you

To become a family medicine physician, one must finish their undergraduate education in any science field. After graduation, they must attend an accredited medical school for four years, where they learn compulsory modules like physiology, biology, medical science, medical ethics, the use of medications, and so on. Following medical school, they must finish a three to four-year residency program and complete rotations in many fields like obstetrics, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, and inpatient hospital care. The clinical training equips them with skills like patient interaction, diagnosis, conducting medical assessments, and designing a treatment plan. 

The licensing procedure depends on the state where they want to practice. Family doctors usually take board exams conducted by the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Alternatively, they can be certified through the ABFM (American Board of Family Medicine) or AOBFP (American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians). 

Four primary reasons to visit a family physician

If you have sudden flu, unexpected neck pain, or a nagging rash, your first point of contact would be a family physician near you. If you have a medical emergency, you must immediately visit the emergency room (ER). However, your family physician can manage most cases firsthand. Navigating the healthcare system can save a lot of expenses allowing you to invest in your health simultaneously. These are the primary reasons why you should see a family physician - 

• Family doctors see you throughout your life. They have all the information about you and your family's medical history and can easily detect the warning signs of any severe disease or disorder before it worsens. 
• Family physicians treat a wide range of conditions. From a mild headache to screening for cancer in the body, visiting them can be very beneficial. They can also help you treat and manage common chronic conditions like arthritis, heart disease, digestive disorders, and diabetes. Moreover, they treat acute conditions such as sinus infections, sports injuries, or even health issues faced by children.
• Research shows that visiting a family physician can help you save a lot of medical expenses. For example, according to the Cleveland Clinic, a 23% spike in primary healthcare spending in Rhode Island resulted in an 18% reduction in overall healthcare costs. One primary care physician, like the family doctor, for every 10,000 people can reduce hospital admissions by 5.5% and surgeries by 11%. Investing in a family doctor is affordable and provides better health for you and your family. 
• While family doctors are your first point of contact during a health concern, you might sometimes need to see a specialist. Depending on your symptoms and preferences, your family physician can promptly refer you to an appropriate specialist.

How do you prepare for your appointment with a family physician near you? 

During your visit to the family doctor, they will inquire about your health, asking questions about your symptoms, medications, and family history. A physical examination may also be conducted, which could involve checking pulse, weight, and blood pressure. If you have a specific condition like diabetes, your doctor will ask further questions about your symptoms, current management, and lifestyle adjustments to alleviate symptoms.

Here's a list of items to bring to your first visit with your family doctor -

• List of Concerns - Include any new symptoms, questions about vaccinations, or health goals you have. 
• Family Medical History - Provide information about cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and any other inherited conditions in your family.
• List of Current Medications - Include all medications you are currently taking, including dosage information.
• Insurance Card - Bring your insurance card for verification and billing purposes.
• Name and Number of Previous Doctors - If applicable, provide your previous doctor's contact information to access medical records.
• Calendar - Have a calendar available to schedule future appointments or follow-up visits.
• Notebook - Bring a notebook to take notes on the doctor's advice, recommendations, and any instructions given during the appointment.
• Support Person - Consider bringing a loved one or family member to help take notes or remind you to ask specific questions during the appointment.

By preparing these items in advance, you can ensure a productive and informative first visit with a family physician near you.

What is the difference between family practice and general practice? 

The main difference between family practice and general practice lies in their scope and approach to patient care.

Family practice is a type of medical clinic where healthcare providers offer primary care to patients of all ages. When you register with a family practice, your primary care provider (PCP) becomes familiar with your entire medical history, as well as your family’s, allowing them to take a more personalized approach to your healthcare. 

Family medicine practitioners specialize in treating people of all ages, from infants to seniors. Because they focus on comprehensive care, they receive additional training in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology, enabling them to provide various services, including preventive care, and women’s health exams.

General practice, on the other hand, functions more like an urgent care clinic or a general health center. General practitioners (GPs) do not specialize in any particular area but instead provide basic medical services to patients of all ages. 

While they diagnose and treat various conditions, their role often involves identifying health issues that may require referral to a specialist for further care. General practitioners work in urgent care centers, hospitals, and clinics, offering treatment for common illnesses and injuries. 

General practice clinics are equipped with labs and diagnostic machines to conduct medical tests that help diagnose conditions more accurately. Their primary goal is to treat patients effectively and keep them out of the hospital whenever possible.

In summary, family practice is a medical specialty that provides long-term, comprehensive care for individuals and families, while general practice focuses on offering general medical services without specialization, often in more immediate or urgent care settings.

Finding the best family medicine doctor near you

Family physicians have an essential role in the healthcare system as they are our first point of contact in case of medical concerns or queries. For example, you may want immediate remedies if your child has a severe fever. Your family doctor will happily advise you in their office or via phone. Establishing a healthy relationship with your family medicine doctor is necessary to ensure that you stay in touch for a long time. Based on your condition and preferences, they will curate a comprehensive treatment plan for you. 

Thanks to Zocdoc, finding the best family medicine doctor near you is easy and hassle-free! Head to Zocdoc.com or use our app, get yourself a free account, and begin your search. You can enter details like your symptoms, procedure, condition, specialty, location, or date. For instance, to find the doctors who practice in your area, enter the location as Pasadena, California. Type "family physician" or the condition in the search box to delimit your search to a particular specialty. Once you confirm your entries, Zocdoc provides you with a list of the best family doctors in and around your area.

Shortlisting the doctors might give you an idea about what you require. You can do this by visiting their unique profiles. To select the best family medicine doctor near you, compare multiple profiles by reading about their academic qualifications, medical expertise, research background, services, types of appointments, languages they speak, and so on. You can also review the verified reviews and ratings before making the final decision. Zocdoc also allows you to find a family physician near you who will accept your insurance. If you prefer not to share your insurance information with your provider, you can still book appointments through Zocdoc. However, keep in mind that some providers may require insurance information to schedule appointments. If you don't have insurance or choose not to use it for your appointment, you can explore other providers listed on Zocdoc who may accommodate your preference. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account.

However, when searching for and booking an appointment, you can only use one insurance plan at a time. If you have more than one insurance plan, you can mention your secondary insurance in the notes section for the provider during the final step of booking.

If your provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you’ll have the option to add your secondary insurance when filling out the forms online. If you have more insurance-related queries, you can visit Zocdoc’s insurance page.

All bookings made on Zocdoc are simple, free, and secure! 

Statistics on health issues in California 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), California's leading causes of death are heart disease, followed by cancer, COVID-19, stroke, and Alzheimer's. In 2021, almost 65,471 people in California died of heart disease, 59,503 died of cancer, and nearly 16,911 died of Alzheimer's. 

The Kaiser Family Foundation notes that as of May 2023, 212,001 internal medicine doctors and 150,251 family medicine physicians provide active services in the United States. In California, 22,974 internal medicine doctors and 16,184 family medicine physicians provide services. 

According to the California Health Care Foundation (2021), California was the first-ranked state in the United States in the percentages of medical students and residents who stayed in their state to practice medicine. Moreover, 39% of primary care physicians and 23% of specialty physicians obtained their medical degrees from an international medical school.

Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians[1]

American Academy of Family Physicians[2]

WebMD

Cleveland Clinic   

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kaiser Family Foundation

California Health Care Foundation

Cedars-Sinai

Indeed

Intercoastal Medical Group

Advanced Medical, PA

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.