Family medicine provides comprehensive care for many diseases and people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. The specialty caters to the entire family, improving access to preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services. Access to the best East Village family medicine physician can boost your health. Read on to discover the many advantages of a family physician.
Why is family medicine necessary?
Family medicine evolved as a subset of primary care when the medical field became highly specialized. In the past, a family physician was simply a medical specialist working within a community. But today it is a specialty requiring certification through an accredited residency program.
The purpose of the specialty is to provide comprehensive and continuous patient care. It operates in a setting that involves the family and the community to improve treatment outcomes.
Family medicine provides comprehensive care
Family medicine practitioners are the first point of contact for individuals seeking primary care. They can provide a complete range of preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.
Family physicians deliver preventive services, including screening tests and health risk assessments. They can help identify diseases at the earliest stages. That ensures timely treatment for the condition before it progresses to cause severe symptoms.
For example, a family doctor can perform screening tests to establish your risk of cardiovascular conditions. After identifying underlying health problems, your physician may recommend steps to manage the disease.
Preventive steps may include:
- Lifestyle and diet adjustments
- Patient counseling on disease and risk factors
- Monitor progress with routine checkups
- Update your vaccines and immunizations
Family physicians ensure care continuity
Family physicians provide care for patients of all ages for many different conditions. Some doctors diagnose and treat patients throughout their lives. They develop long-term relationships with their patients and record data regarding their health.
Therefore, family doctors have a broad knowledge of their patients. They utilize medical history to identify warning signs and emerging medical concerns. That ensures timely diagnosis and effective treatment outcomes.
Since they provide care in a family context, they can identify health problems running in the family. For example, your doctor will recommend screening testsIf you are genetically predisposed to cancer or heart disease.
Physicians may also encourage other family members to participate in disease prevention programs. They understand health risks for people of all ages, enabling comprehensive and continuous care for the entire family.
Family physicians can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare expenses
Since family physicians provide preventive and diagnostic services, they can address symptoms and reduce the risk of debilitating health conditions. They also monitor patients with chronic conditions to facilitate comprehensive disease management. Their knowledge of the individual and the family ensures thorough health risk assessments and effective treatments.
Research shows increasing access to a family doctor reduces healthcare expenses. Statistics suggest one physician for 10,000 patients reduced mortality by 5.3% compared to populations of 100,000. That underscores why family physicians are crucial for your finances and your family’s health.
To book a consultation with a family physician, contact Matt Pabis, MD, or schedule your appointment online.