The speciality of Family Medicine is centred on lasting, caring relationships with patients and their families. The scope of Family Medicine encompasses all ages, sexes, each organ system and every disease entity.
Family physicians oversee your preventative care
Educating patients in disease prevention and health maintenance is one of the most important functions a family doctor performs. They care for your entire being, including your mental and emotional needs. This might take the form of helping you with:
- Stress relief and anger management techniques
- Weight control and nutritional counselling
- Fertility testing and counselling
- Suggesting the best forms of physical exercise for your fitness level
Family physicians are experts at managing common complaints
When your child has a flu virus, or when you feel like you’re coming down with another bladder infection, your family doctor is your go-to medical resource for the appropriate prescription medication. If your child needs immunisations for school, or you have concerns about your child’s physical growth rate, your family doctor is your first stop.
Family physicians diagnose emerging conditions
Because they provide treatment to you and your family over long periods of time, family physicians know your medical history very well. They know what’s “normal” for you. Your family doctor’s familiarity with your medical records helps them quickly recognise a significant change that might indicate a serious or hidden condition.
Family doctors are often the first to screen you for early signs of serious diseases such as cancer, and often they’re the first to detect emerging conditions. They order, perform and interpret tests to diagnose conditions, explain the results to you and then monitor your progress and re-evaluate your treatment when necessary.
Family physicians manage chronic illness
Stroke, heart disease, asthma, diabetes and cancer are some of the most common chronic and degenerative conditions managed by family physicians. They provide ongoing and personalised care to you through some of the most challenging times in your life.
Family physicians are the cornerstone of your health care team
Family practice doctors coordinate on your behalf with nurses, rehabilitation and occupational therapists, mental health workers, pharmacists and other health care providers.
They refer you to a specialist if your condition becomes serious and requires a more concentrated focus, but they stay involved and informed, acting as your primary care physician. This spares you the stress of having to figure everything out alone.
Are you ready to team up with a family physician who is passionate about preventative medicine and dedicated to supporting your family’s wellness through all cycles of life?
