Many medical doctors are specialists who treat one particular area or system of the body. However, family practice providers are different. They are physicians who provide primary medical care for patients of all ages, and for every member of the family.
Let’s talk about what a family practice provider does and how you can find the right provider for you.
What Is a Primary Care Physician?
Primary care physicians (PCPs) provide comprehensive care to patients, and they focus on preventive care and chronic disease management. They are the first line of defense against illness, and they are responsible for screening, diagnosing, and treating various medical conditions.
PCPs work with patients to develop individualized treatment plans and coordinate care with other specialists if needed. A PCP who specializes in children’s health is a pediatrician, and a PCP who specializes in adult medicine is an internist.
What Is a Family Practice Provider?
Family practice providers, or family physicians, are the most comprehensive type of PCP. They provide care to patients of all ages.
Family physicians serve as a patient’s main source of healthcare and may be the only doctor a patient sees for minor illnesses. They also provide guidance on lifestyle, such as diet and exercise, to help prevent disease.
Family practice providers are highly qualified to treat every member of the family. They complete four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, at least three years of a family medicine residency, and sometimes also a fellowship.
Who Should See a Family Practice Provider?
The beauty of family practice is that anyone can see a family practice provider. However, people who benefit the most are, unsurprisingly, families!
Family practice providers can perform annual wellness exams for anyone from infants to seniors, as well as sick visits anytime someone has an illness. Family medicine practitioners can also monitor diseases that run in families, even providing preventive health services for children who are likely to develop certain conditions because of family history. In addition, family practice is typically a long-term medical relationship – your family practice provider manages your health over the years and as your children grow up, so they’ll know your family’s health better than any other doctor.
Primary Care Physician in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL
If you are in search of the best family practice providers, visit Intercoastal Medical Group. With over 100 physicians, we can give you and your family comprehensive health and wellness services in which we not only treat disease but also work to prevent it.
Our physicians are family doctors and specialists of all kinds, and we even offer urgent medical care on weekends as a special benefit to those who are our existing primary care patients.
To schedule an appointment with us, give our friendly office staff a call at the location nearest you, or fill out our appointment requst form online now. We have board-certified family practice and internal medicine physicians at many of our locations, and we look forward to seeing you!
