Family medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of all family members. A family doctor (family medicine doctor) provides comprehensive medical care for both children and adults. What examinations does the family doctor order? What diseases does it treat? Family doctor, internist and pediatrician - what's the difference?

Family Medicineis a branch of medicine that deals with the he alth of all family members.Family (family medicine) doctor , under the care of all family members, can make a diagnosis on a daily basis, and in more complicated cases he refers the patient to a specialist.

Contents:

    1. Family medicine - what does a family doctor (family medicine) do?
    2. Family medicine - what diseases does a family doctor (family medicine) treat?
    3. Family medicine - what tests can a family doctor (family medicine) order?
    4. Family medicine - how to prepare for a visit to a family doctor (family medicine)?

Family medicine - what does a family doctor (family medicine) do?

      • coordinating the patient's he alth care - organizes and organizes the path of treatment and prevention
      • consultation process (broad) - giving advice, issuing opinions on general he alth, referring to specialists
      • developing a personal approach to the patient, taking into account his family and environment
      • making a diagnosis and making related decisions
      • long-term care of the patient
      • guiding patients with acute and chronic diseases
      • promoting a he althy lifestyle
      • he alth of the local community

Family medicine - what diseases does a family doctor (family medicine) treat?

High blood pressure does not always require a visit to a hypertensiologist, not every headache requires consultation with a neurologist - sometimes a visit to the family doctor is enough. Its main task is to deal with diseases that are statistically most common and do not require consultations and specialist visits.

The family doctor makes sure thatonly complex cases, requiring appropriate diagnostic or therapeutic tools, found their way to specialist doctors or hospitals. Another very important task of a family doctor is prevention and promotion of a he althy lifestyle.

Worth knowing

Family doctor vs internist and pediatrician

Patients often do not know that family doctors, internists and pediatricians are doctors of different speci alties. The scope of family medicine is slightly wider than that of an internist or pediatrician. A family doctor can provide services and he alth advice to both adults and children - he treats all family members. The pediatrician can only look after children, and the internist - only adults.

It should also be added that the task of a family doctor is to deal with statistically most common disease entities in the area that does not require specialist consultation.

Family medicine - what tests can a family doctor (family medicine) order?

Your GP can write out referrals for various tests that are necessary for a diagnosis. A general practitioner may refer you to basic tests, such as laboratory blood tests, stool tests, and urine tests. He may also order some X-rays, such as the chest. You can also get a referral for an abdominal ultrasound scan from your GP. If any case is more complicated, the family doctor will refer you to an appropriate specialist.

Family medicine - how to prepare for a visit to a family doctor (family medicine)?

Do not forget to prepare the documentation before visiting your family doctor. The test results, hospital discharge reports, X-ray pictures and all other documents related to the treatment will facilitate the doctor's work. Prepare to talk to your doctor well - it is important to know about your family history. Some diseases are inherited - telling your doctor about them will help you make a diagnosis. Also try to precisely describe any disturbing symptoms.

Worth knowing

A family doctor is a specialist who can be consulted not only when we are sick or notice disturbing symptoms, but also when we want to consult him on everything related to a he althy lifestyle.

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