Who is a family physician?

Family physicians are medical doctors who provide care to people of all age groups and gender. They specialise in diagnosing chronic conditions, checking for signs or symptoms, providing preventative care, and referring people to specialists, if needed. Family physicians work in private clinics or with groups of other specialists. They also work in several community clinics.

When should you consult a family physician?

Some of the reasons for consulting a family physician include:

• Chronic disease management: family physicians diagnose and manage several chronic disorders and conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis, high cholesterol, breathing issues, and skin problems.
• Recommendations to specialists: if you are suffering from a chronic disease, a family physician can refer you to a specialist who works in that field of medicine.
• Care for injury or illness: if you or your family member is injured or sick, a family care physician may treat the conditions independently, such as sprains, fractures, cold, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other infections.
• Routine examinations: family physicians perform several routine examinations involving sports and annual physical exams, newborn and child checkups, men’s health screenings, prostate examinations, female pelvic examinations, and annual pap smears.

Roles and responsibilities of family physicians

A family physician’s day-to-day responsibilities are examined by where they work. Several tasks are linked to this role. Some of the roles and responsibilities of family physicians are as follows:

• Provide holistic and ultimate care to patients.
• Book diagnostic tests and interpret results
• Give advice to patients about certain health changes
• Monitor patient’s progress and records.
• Connect with other healthcare providers.

What does a family practice doctor do?

A family physician delivers a diverse range of care services. They provide:

• Immunization and screening tests.
• Counseling on a healthy lifestyle.
• Diagnosing and managing common chronic conditions.
• Regular checkups and health risk examinations.

What are the types of procedures followed by family physicians?

A family care physician may perform the following:

• Evaluation of vitals such as body temperature, blood pressure, heartbeat, and breathing rate
• Screenings to check for growth in newborns and children
• Regular blood tests, head and neck examinations
• Abdominal assessment 
• Immunizations
• Skin examinations
• Men’s health screenings such as aortic aneurysm screenings, prostate examinations, and colorectal exam referrals
• Women’s health screenings like osteoporosis screening, pap smears, sexual health screening, and mammogram referrals

A family physician may ask you several questions regarding lifestyle choices, medications, and other health-related issues.

Where to find a family physician?

You can find a family physician easily on the Apollo 24|7 app or website. Browse the best family doctors who can help manage and treat health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and underlying heart conditions. Book an appointment from the comfort of your home and consult the best family medicine doctors in just 15 minutes.