Posted in:

Family Medicine: Partnering with Doctors You Can Turn to for Your Family’s Healthcare Needs

© by iStock

Family doctors cater to the different needs of your entire family. Sometimes, two generations will use the same doctor. They do not hone in only on just a kind of illness or body part and take care of the non-emergency needs of your family. They can see patients of all ages and refer patients to specialists when necessary. 

What’s Family Medicine?

Family physicians Like the ones at Treasure Valley Family Medicine diagnose, treat, and prevent a variety of diseases in young and old patients. They can work in a hospital setting or practice in a private group. They provide a variety of medical services including routine checkups, immunizations, screening tests, health risk assessments, healthy lifestyle counseling, as well as chronic illness treatment and prevention. The broad knowledge of family doctors on illness detection and treatment results from their vast educational requirements. 

Importance of Family Medicine

Doctors who specialize in family medicine do the following for their patients:

  • Familiarize themselves with your family history. Your family doctor will want to fulfill the healthcare needs of your family. By working with your relatives, they can understand the medical history of your family, safeguarding your younger loved ones through preventative care measures. By having access to this record, your doctor can help save your life and your loved ones’ lives. They can determine diseases that run in your family and evaluate the preliminary steps or medications you must take to avoid these risks. They will analyze a condition and provide comprehensive care. Their care plan may include diagnostic procedures and examinations. 
  • Coordinate chronic disease management. Your family doctor can assist with the management of chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, asthma, heart ailments, cholesterol problems, and thyroid conditions. You can turn to them for support throughout your treatment plan. And if your condition gets worse, your doctor can refer you to a reliable specialist. 
  • Routine and regular examinations. When you visit your family doctor, you may be recommended to undergo routine physical exams, so they can monitor and manage your condition. These exams include annual physical exams, annual Pap smears for women, prostate exams for men, and pediatric checkups. 

Healthcare Needs Your Family Doctor Can Help Your Family With

You can rely on your family doctors in terms of meeting the following healthcare needs:

  • Preventative care. Your family doctor will help you prevent the development of illnesses, especially those you have a family history of. This includes your emotional, mental, and physical needs. For instance, they can suggest the right exercises to perform for your fitness level, offer weight control counseling, provide nutritional guidance and tips, or suggest ways to manage stress and anger. 
  • Health complaint management. Your family handles common health issues including flu, colds, ear infection, or sore throat. Also, they can give immunization to your children. 
  • Disease diagnosis. Your family doctor is familiar with your medical history, which means they can analyze new and strange symptoms as well as identify a developing serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. For instance, they are usually the first ones to examine and screen you for early signs of cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. 
  • Chronic disease management. Family doctors offer personalized, ongoing care for degenerative and serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. They use diagnostic tests to evaluate your rehabilitative progress and identify effective follow-up steps in your treatment plan. 
  • Rehab coordination. Your doctor can refer you to specialists should your condition require specialized care. However, they remain involved by acting as your primary care doctor. Apart from disease specialists, they can also coordinate with other health care providers such as physical or occupational therapists and pharmacists. Also, they supervise their healthcare team to reduce your worries.