Do you ever think about how you can be healthier and reduce your risk of illness and hospitalization? Do you ever think of your family health history and feel anxious because you have family members that have diabetes, cancer, arthritis, or another disease?
There is a medical doctor who can provide you with a range of services to help you lead a healthier lifestyle and reach your health goals – a primary care doctor. Primary care doctors are the backbone of our healthcare system. They are the ones we see for routine checkups and screenings, and they play a vital role in helping us stay healthy. They also help us manage chronic conditions and provide guidance on how to live a healthier lifestyle.
Who is a Primary Care Doctor?
Two of the most common primary care providers are family medicine doctors and internal medicine providers.
Family medicine doctors treat the whole family, while internal medicine doctors treat adults. There are many similarities in the education and training of family medicine doctors and internal medicine doctors. Both types of physicians complete four years of medical school, followed by a residency program lasting three to seven years. During their residencies, both family medicine doctors and internal medicine doctors receive training in various aspects of patient care.
There are also several differences between the education and training of these two types of physicians. One major difference is that while all family medicine residents must complete a rotation in pediatrics (caring for children), not all internal medicine residents do so. In addition, while both specialities provide primary care services to patients of all ages with a wide variety of health concerns, family physicians typically have more expertise in caring for patients across the lifespan than internists do – particularly when it comes to children. Finally, internists often go on to specialize in a particular area(s) of interest, such as cardiology or pulmonology. Most family physicians remain generalists who provide comprehensive care to their patients without specialization.
What Services Can a Primary Care Doctor Provide?
Services primary care doctors provide typically include:
- Diagnostic services – These are the services that help identify a patient’s condition or disease. This can involve tests and examinations, as well as taking a medical history and reviewing symptoms.
- Treatments – These treat a patient’s condition, disease, or symptoms. This can include prescribing medication, recommending lifestyle changes, or performing procedures.
- Prevention services – These are services that help prevent conditions or diseases from developing in the first place. This can involve things like health education, screenings for early detection of health problems, and immunizations against infectious diseases – especially since most chronic diseases can be prevented. Your primary care doctor is your ally and will advocate for your best interest.
- Coordination of care – Primary care doctors work with other health professionals to ensure that patients receive the care and treatments they need in a coordinated way. This includes referrals to specialists, arranging for diagnostic testing, and following up on results.
Top Primary Care Doctors in Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida
If you are looking for a primary care doctor for your family, choose Intercoastal Medical Group. We are a multi-specialty practice in Sarasota and Manatee County with family medicine doctors and internal medicine providers on our team, all providing compassionate and comprehensive health and wellness services. Our friendly staff can help you find the right physician for you. We have 9 locations to choose from – call our clinic nearest you or use our convenient online appointment request form.
