Patients diagnosed with chronic disease will inevitably need long-term medical care. Asthma, diabetes, and arthritis are just a few chronic conditions that require constant care.
When a chronic disease is left untreated, it can only get worse and, overtime, can become debilitating. Establishing and working with a good, qualified family practice physician is crucial to managing a chronic disease.
Let’s talk about how a family practice doctor can help you manage your chronic disease(s) and where you can find one in Sarasota & Manatee Counties.
What Is a Family Practice Physician?
A family practice physician sees patients of all ages and sex. They differ from medical specialists who focus on specific areas of expertise, e.g. cardiologists focus on the heart.
Family practice doctors consider the entire body and not just one particular organ or body part when treating their patients.
As such, a family practice doctor is an excellent physician to consult regarding managing chronic illnesses.
To become a family practice physician, you must complete a formal residency that is for three years. It includes training in infant, children, adult, and elder treatment.
Family practice physicians usually work with a team of other family practice doctors at a private practice or office.
How Does a Family Medicine Doctor Help Manage Chronic Illness?
There are many ways that a family practice doctor can help chronic disease patients manage their symptoms.
Monitoring
Upon formally diagnosing a chronic illness, your family practice doctor can help you monitor your ailments and progress.
For example, diabetes patients can consult their physician to keep track of insulin and blood glucose levels. People with high blood pressure and cholesterol levels should also regularly get checked by their family medicine doctor.
They should notice any abnormalities in your symptoms and health stats. It is also up to them to spot improvements and other changes.
Screenings
In line with regular monitoring of symptoms, your family practice doctor will conduct medical screenings. You might need blood tests, physical exams, and X-ray scans to find the causes of chronic illness.
Medical screening can also help your doctor predict any other diseases you might develop. Then, they can create a preventative care plan to minimize risk factors.
Referrals
Chronic illness can be unpredictable. If your disease might require more serious attention and care, your family practice doctor can refer you to a specialist.
Your family medicine physician is familiar with your symptoms and overall progress. They can recommend a specialist that would suit your case best.
Upon referral, the specialist will work with your doctor to coordinate medication, screenings, and further treatment.
Further Education
Finally, a family practice doctor is a good point person for further learning about your chronic disease and its repercussions.
They can help you understand your condition better and manage it in the long run.
Family Doctor in Sarasota & Manatee County
Intercoastal Medical Group is home to the best and brightest primary care doctors. Our highly-skilled team of family practice doctors is prepared to help you manage your chronic disease and guide you to recovery. Depending on your preference and proximity, we have multiple locations in Sarasota and Manatee county, Florida. You may view complete location details on our website.
To schedule an appointment with a primary care physician near you, fill in our convenient online request form. New patients can download patient registration forms at our official website.
