Family medicine is a specialty of medicine that focuses on comprehensive health care for people of all ages. Cary, NC family medicine physicians provide long-term, ongoing, comprehensive healthcare for individuals and their families. They are trained in diagnosing and treating complex illnesses in patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors.

Family doctors often work with other specialists, such as pediatricians, to provide complete, coordinated care for their patients. This coordination can help ensure that your child receives the right care at the right time. Besides, family doctors may practice in any setting where they can provide primary medical care to patients, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, and community health centers.

Here are the reasons to have a family doctor:

Preventive care: Family doctors do more than treat diseases when they occur. They also work to keep you healthy. They can help you address concerns you might have had about your health in the past and provide guidance on how to live a healthier life overall. This can include advice on diet, exercise, mental health, smoking cessation, sexual health, and drug/alcohol use.

Advise patients on preventive care measures: Family doctors advise patients on preventive care measures that can help prevent many health problems before they begin. For instance, regular checkups help family doctors catch or diagnose problems early when there are better options or if nothing can be done at that point, it gives patients time to adjust their lifestyle or prepare for treatments that will be necessary down the road.

Treats chronic medical issues: Family medicine can benefit patients suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Some studies have shown that people who have developed close relationships with their primary care physicians live longer than those who don’t. This could be because family doctors can often view the big picture of a patient’s health and individual symptoms when developing treatment plans. In addition, close doctor-patient relationships also result in better compliance with treatment regimens and healthier lifestyle choices among patients.

Address a wide range of problems: Family physicians can give you good preventive care and treat the most common illnesses. They can make referrals to specialists if you need surgery or intensive care. These doctors are trained to handle many problems, so they can often help people with many different issues, including those with multiple chronic conditions.

Offer early diagnosis and treatment: Family doctors can precisely diagnose certain conditions that might have been overlooked if you had only seen general practitioners in the past. If there is a history of certain illnesses within your family, seeing a family doctor can help ensure that all family members get effective treatment as soon as possible.

Family medicine is typically a hospital-based practice that provides care to many patients across the lifespan. Physicians in this field are trained to provide acute and chronic care for those in the family unit, which includes the patient and their extended families. This care can be provided through chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease or acute problems like an asthma attack or surgery. A primary care physician may also serve as a medical home for patients who need ongoing care for a chronic condition or illness. To know more about family medicine, contact Generations Family Practice experts.